Statement from the House Floor

By Rep. Cynthia McKinney

Rep. Watt: "Mr. Chairman, I'd like to wish our next speaker a happy birthday today.  She thought I didn't know that, and yield her one minute: the gentle lady from Georgia, Ms. Mckinney."

Speaker pro tempore: "The Chair recognizes the gentle lady from Georgia on her birthday for one minute."

Rep. McKinney: "Thank you very much. And i won't tell you which birthday it is. Mr. chairman, i rise in support of the C.B.C. budget and against the priorities of the republican budget.  The republican budget does nothing to decrease the ratio of disparities that exist in our country. In fact, it exacerbates them.

"76 years to close the college graduation gap! 581 years to close the wealth gap! 1,664 years to close the homeownership gap! But when Republicans talk about growth, it's clear that too many American communities are just not included. It's also clear that the Republicans don't see our constituents, because if they did, they wouldn't legislate public policy that hurts them. Even Alan Greenspan has decried the unsustainable income imbalances in our country.

"The republicans continue to ignore him, us, and our constituents. It's a sad day when veterans, children, seniors, small business owners, rural Americans, and poor Americans have to take a back seat to the scions of industry and Wall Street.  I support the C.B.C. budget and reject the priorities of the Republican budget. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding."