mr. kagen: thank you for bringing up this subject. the american people have to pay attention because they have to ask the question, whose side are you on? whose side are we on and how did we get into this mess? we were driven into an economic ditch. first and foremost, a failed economic policy. a policy wherein we have had two wars at the same time and haven't paid a single dime for them. two tax cuts to the very rich, haven't paid a penny for those either. we also had $400 billion handout on big drug companies, not paying for a penny of that either, all deficit spending. not paying our way. we fell into this terrible situation of a mortgage fiasco where people were buying things that didn't exist, under a $12 trillion hole and under the last administration, their friends asked them and the administration opened up the door to the treasury and the wall street banks looted our treasury for nearly $1 trillion. again, we haven't paid a dime for that. and then came a great recession, not just here

the gentleman from wisconsin, mr. kagen. mr. kagen: i thank the kind gentleman for agreeing to the amendment and in the true spirit of a very efficient operation, will yield back the balance of my time. the chair: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the time question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from wisconsin. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. the amendment is agreed to. it is now in order to consider amendment number 4 printed in house report 111-463. for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition? mr. schauer: i have an amendment at the desk. the chair: the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 4 printed in house report 111-463 offered by mr. schauer of michigan. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 1248, the gentleman from michigan, mr. schauer, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the chair now recognizes the gentleman from michigan. mr. schauer: thank you, mr. chair. i yield

mr. kagen: to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. kagen: mr. speaker, i rise today to pay tribute to larry wires of green bay, wisconsin, as he enters his retirement. for 24 years, mr. wires has served as northeast wisconsin's distinguished community leader. as his friends, family and colleagues will gather at the green bay packer stadium, lambeau field, on april 19 to pay tribute and to his service and dedicated service to our community, i respectfully request my colleagues join me in honoring this outstanding individual. among his many accomplishments, mr. wires has been presented with the rotary free enterprise award and received an golden apple award from green bay in communications. in 2009 he was a nominee for the platts lifetime achievement award. mr. wires has supported his community and we wish him well in his retirement. mr. speaker, as mr. wires celebrates his retirement, i ask all my colleagues to salute him and to remind him that retirement is simply reoccupation and he will be just too busy to go back to work. the speake

mr. kagen: to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. : mr. speaker, everyone in wisconsin wants to know the answer to the question -- whose side are you on? yesterday, the part sans in the united states senate voted to return to the good old days, the good old days of unregulated financial market of voodoo economics on wall street and the continued deregulation of big banks on wall street. we cannot afford to go back to the losing policies of the bush administration where wall street was allowed to consume the wealth of an entire generation. people in wisconsin believe if you're too big to fail then you should not exist. people in wisconsin know that we're on their side. and when wall street innovates, main street pays the price. we have to work hard together to catch all the crooks, following their trail wherever they may lead. we have to make certain that we balance our budgets, live within our means and rewrite our financial regulations to make things fair for people on main street. that's what we have to do together. i yield back my

mr. kagen: mr. speaker, all across northeast wisconsin everywhere i go people are asking me, who's side am i on? who's side are we on? isn't it time we finally began to work to solve these complex problems, to help rebuild our country, to rebuild our jobs, bring these jobs back home where they belong instead of sending them overseas? whose side are we really on? isn't it time we pursued each and every one of the crooks on wall street who took our money? people in wisconsin want their money back, they want their jobs back and they will be asking the question, whose side are we on? well, let's work together, rebuild our families, communities and make certain that any bank, any bank or any investment firm that is too big to fail ceases to exist. let's break up the big banks on wall street, and i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina rise? mr. wilson: mr. speaker, i ask permission to address