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Post by Rick Warder on Dec 8, 2005 17:42:34 GMT -5
OOC: Take it away, Oswald.
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Post by Admin Tyler on Dec 8, 2005 18:36:51 GMT -5
"The...budget...is open for debate."
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Post by Cody Shea on Dec 8, 2005 23:22:24 GMT -5
"Mr. President?"
"The gentleman from North Carolina."
"Mr. President, let me say first that I applaud President Warder's budget proposal; a massive increase to education spending, cutting the federal deficit, and finally some real incentives to get companies to offer their employees the real healthcare they needed and definitely deserved. I find myself irresistibly attracted to supporting this new budget, but there is one failing that puts a dampening on my enthusiasm. Labor."
"This new budget, while making fantastic progress in some areas, is woefully lacking in labor spending. We cannot allow this budget to pass until this situation has been remedied. Not when money is desperately needed by states for rapid response assistance to help workers who have been affected by mass layoffs and plant closures. Not when job training for laid off workers, former seasonal and migrant workers is under funded. Not when funding is needed by the International Labor Affairs Bureau to continue international child labor protection activities and keep children from working in squalor for long hours at slave wages."
"How can President Warder push for his treaty with the Mexican government to make migrant workers essentially indentured servants with the promise of citizenship and then refuse to give the funds needed to retrain these new citizens from a sub-minimum wage existence? What does that say to these new Americans? That after all we've made them sacrifice, all we've made them endure to earn their citizenship, that we still only consider them fit to do unskilled, underpaid labor for exploitative conglomerates?"
"Mr. President, I echo President Warder's sentiments for wanting unity rather than partisan division on this budget, and I think that there is ample opportunity to keep all of the President's main focuses intact while also providing a needed increase in spending for Labor programs."
"If you look at the budget you will see that there is a $44 billion dollar increase in military spending. Let's say atleast $4 billion of that goes into R&D projects. All I'm asking is that $2.4 billion of that be redirected into Labor. This isn't an unreasonable request."
"Tell me, why does the United States NEED to design a new jet fighter? Our air force is unparalleled in the world both in quality of aircraft, training of pilots, and quantity. Our closest competitor, China, is atleast ten years behind us in terms of aircraft technology. There has not been, to my knowledge, a fixed-wing U.S. aircraft brought down by enemy fire since the Vietnam War."
"Why then, knowing this, is money still poured into new and even more grandiose designs by the Pentagon? The answer is simple; because Lockheed-Martin wills it so. It is the contractors who benefit from the bulk of R&D military spending, not the United States military."
"Mr. President, I have absolutely no qualms in taking money out of the pockets of Lockheed-Martin executives and putting it into the hands of the workers they've laid off and the families who depend on them. I have no regrets in taking them off ineffective welfare-to-work programs run by Lockheed-Martin and instead getting these people REAL work for REAL wages with REAL benefits. It is my hope that the administration shares my views on this, and will make this small, but necessary change in the budget."
"I yield the balance of my time."
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Post by Alexander Shackleton on Dec 9, 2005 0:26:49 GMT -5
Mr. President,
I cannot possibly support this budget. It is a push to the extreme, a plan of "reform" which in its effort for significance falls far short in practice.
I applaud the President for including increases for education spending, reducing the federal deficit, and increasing health care incentives. However, in an effort to pay for all of this, it completely guts Medicare. Now, if the President's strategy is to replace Medicare, I can understand his opinion, but he can't do it all in one year! These things take time Mr. President!
Far too many seniors do not have the income or the ability to simply lose Medicare and bounce back with health insurance through savings or tax breaks, Mr. President. This budget doesn't make up for that. Far too many seniors have paid into Medicare and Social Security all their life, knowing that even if they didn't win big bucks on the stock market, or become a famous politician in Beverly Hills, they'd have a basic social assistance to turn to in a time of need.
Medicare has been one of the most successful American social programs in history for a reason. It provides affordable, quality medicine for seniors and dignity in retirement, fulfilling the promise that our Government has made to retiring Americans. We cannot break that promise, we cannot gamble with our seniors' retirement, their prescriptions, their health.
On behalf of America's seniors, I yield.
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Post by Avery Adams on Dec 9, 2005 7:08:02 GMT -5
(OOC: Not sure if this is the correct place to put this but it follows the thread.)
During DoD Press Conference...
Q: Mr. Secretary, Senator Shea has sought that the majority of the increased Defense R&D budget be redistributed into Labor. He goes on to say "why does the United States NEED to design a new jet fighter... Our air force is unparalleled and our closest competitor... is at least ten years behind us. There has not been... a fixed-wing U.S. aircraft brought down by enemy fire since the Vietnam War." How would you respond sir?
A: Thank you, that is quite a question. I am sure that the Senator is looking out for the interests of his constituents as he believes best, however the gentleman may be misinformed. I will try to address his questions first and comment later.
First, does the US need new combat aircraft? Absolutely, our primary aircraft the F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 were all designed over 30 years ago, and while they are worthy designs and have been improved, if the United States is to maintain it's capabilities we must modernize the Armed Forces. The few F/A-22 Raptor squadrons have shown remarkable abilities compared to the older designs, and the F-35, which is to become operation in the next few years will leverage these abilities more effectively and efficiently. R&D for the Raptor was finished years ago and for the Joint Strike Fighter is nearly complete. Our combat aircraft R&D today is focused on unmanned air vehicles, which will allow less risk to pilots for certain missions and increase our capabilities.
Q: But sir, the Senator says we do not face a threat that is close to our technology?
A: We face many different threats today. Besides increased capabilities, these new aircraft require much less logistical support than older designs. There are many advancing potential threats developing and I am sure the Senator can receive a briefing on those in private. As far as losses, it is true our aircraft have not been shot down by other aircraft, but surface-to-air missiles and other air defenses have downed a number of aircraft over the past 35 years; that was our biggest threat when I flew in Desert Storm. The superior training and support given to our brave aviators can now be linked with modern aircraft worthy of their skills and commitment.
Q: The Senator has proposed that the defense budget be shifted towards social and labor programs, how would you respond.
A: Well, the Department of Defense is the largest employer in the world. We welcome our citizens who wish to serve and gains skills and discipline they can use later in life. Indeed, defense spending also goes back to the states as well; take for example the F/A-22, parts for it are manufactured in 42 states. So defense spending is indeed both a security AND economic benefit!
Thank you very much, but as I am sure you can imagine I have a busy day. Please feel free to submit another questions you have to my office.
Reporters: Thank you Mr. Secretary!
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Post by Cody Shea on Dec 9, 2005 9:50:53 GMT -5
(OOC: That should go in your press office, it is a press conference after all)
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Post by Dan Sterling on Dec 9, 2005 13:11:04 GMT -5
Mr. President,
I prefer to speak bluntly if you don’t mind, this budget, as a whole, is appalling. Now, don’t get me wrong, I congratulate the President on cutting spending, good for him. I appreciate that the President has proposed additional funding for education and military funding.
However, my gratitude for this budget stops there. I wish I had time Mr. President, to read to you all the letters my office has gotten in regards to this dreadful budget. Americans are outraged that this administration decided to slap 38 million seniors in the face. How dare this President, how dare this administration abolish Medicare in such a savage manor. Mr. President, in all my years in public life, I’ve never seen such a vicious attack on our seniors. We all can’t be as wealthy as the President; many seniors just don’t have the money to keep themselves afloat.
Millions of seniors voted for this President, and soon after taking the oath of office what does he do? He decides to turn around and stab them in the back.
I want to read a letter that one of my constituents, who voted for President Warder had to wrote me. It begins,: “ Dear Senator Sterling,
My name is Darlene Crosby, and like millions of seniors in this nation, I’m livid at President Warder’s budget. Slick Rick thought he could throw a fast one by us Senator, he thought that we would merrily allow him to eliminate Medicare. Well slick Rick has another thing coming to him. I won’t allow my future to be ruined by a man who wants to satisfy the far right of his party.
I wanted a leader who would govern in the middle, instead it seems, I got a divider who is more interested in playing political games then standing up for me. Senator, please fight for me in Washington. We need you and the democrats now.” I ask that this be entered into letter be entered into the record.
This President had better correct this budget, or he can kiss his legislative agenda goodbye.
I yield.
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Post by Owen Williams on Dec 9, 2005 23:14:02 GMT -5
Mr. President I arise in hearty support of this budget.
This budget serves to slash a bureaucratic and wasteful failure of social policy, namely Medicare and shift all funding that was previously spent on Medicare, including wasteful spending on bureaucratic red tape measures towards non-Medicare forms of healthcare which would include programs from community health centres to private health care. The slashing of medicare will provide seniors with a much more flexible healthcare system, far more responsive to their individual needs, with a capacity to develop tailored solutions to the situations of difficulties of individual seniors. Furthermore, this budget also provides innovative tax-credits for personal savings accounts, of which I cannot name a person who is without one, to help encourage workers save for their retirement so as to provide for themselves rather than representing a future burden on the taxpayer. This bill serves to turn healthcare in this country from a confusing convulted mass of red tape and regulation to a much more streamlined, efficient, effective and flexible system capable of responding to the needs of individual users. I deplore the attempts of certain members of this chamber to lump 38 million Americans under one banner, namely "seniors" and contend that the elderly of this nation have enough intelligence to see through the hyperbole and fearmongering to understand that President Warder rather than viewing them as a block of 38 million potential voters, as others have, views them as 38 million individuals, with individual needs and indivdual situations. President Warder has responded by providing them with a healthcare system capable of responding to these individual concerns.
Furthermore I applaud with vigour President Warder's decisions to "Invest in America" as I like to call it with his massive boost to education spending. This money will serve to rebuild schools, replace textbooks and hire teachers to bring American children to the pointy end of education in the Western world. This boost to education spending is a boost to the future prosperity of this nation and I encourage all Senators to stand by President Warder's vision and intelligence as an investor in the hopes and dreams of American youth.
In addition President Warder has shown his support for the military and the soldiers who allow all Americans to sleep soundly in bed at night. His boost to military spending and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will serve to first and foremost, save lives by providing the latest in military technology and hardware. This President, as I, hold our soldiers in the highest esteem.
Mr. President as I have said, this budget is an investment in the potential and promise that is America and I for one feel confident in the ability of this budget to bring prosperity and increased quality of life to all Americans.
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Post by Alexander Shackleton on Dec 10, 2005 0:29:00 GMT -5
Mr. President,
The gentleman from California is bragging about "slashing" Medicare! He is defending throwing our seniors off this vital program, with no evidence or facts!
I'd like the gentleman to prove that Medicare is wasteful spending.
I'd like the gentleman to prove that Medicare is a failure.
I'd like the gentleman to tell me what a senior who is 65 years old is going to do with a personal savings account, and how that will make up for losing health care coverage.
The gentleman from California, and the President of the United States, may not see seniors as voters. If they continue treating them as if they don't vote, they may get a rude awakening, Mr. President.
I yield.
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Post by Uxbridge on Dec 19, 2005 21:18:18 GMT -5
Mr President,
I want to help this pass. President Warder has shown leadership in coming up with this plan in these hard times.
However I may not be able to vote for this as long as the evel Guest Worker Treaty is in exestince!
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C August Swift
Democrats 
Christian Coalition's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 34
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Post by C August Swift on Dec 27, 2005 18:46:24 GMT -5
Mr. President,
In oranges and Republicans, insanity is often mistaken for leadership. This budget will be a burden on the middle- and lower-income tax brackets. The "leadership" to make this budget is a crazed leadership.
I yield.
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Post by Uxbridge on Dec 27, 2005 19:57:00 GMT -5
After due thought I will stand behind this budget 100%
Our great President has removed my worries.
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C August Swift
Democrats
Christian Coalition's Worst Nightmare
Posts: 34
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Post by C August Swift on Dec 28, 2005 11:21:45 GMT -5
Mr. President,
Point of Order. The Member for X (OOC: Uxbridge) failed to address the head of the Senate.
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Post by Uxbridge on Dec 28, 2005 12:22:20 GMT -5
Mr. President,
Please forgive me, as I said This is a great budget from a great President!
Thank You
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Post by Admin Tyler on Dec 31, 2005 3:35:32 GMT -5
The budget as passed by the House.
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