mr. levin, is recognized. mr. levin: mr. speaker, i yield myself one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. levin: bringing up this bill in this fashion is a employ so egregious the republicans pleaded with washington not to take it seriously and risk our economic recovery. if republicans were being truthful, they'd admit their looking for political cover, but in their doing so, they risk blowing a whole in our nation's economy. they'd acknowledge that the time something an effort to change the subject, less than a week after their plan to end medicare, they were dealt a major setback by with the voters whose democratic winner will be sworn in tomorrow. . to act in good faith. to solve our nation's fiscal problems, the republicans should focus on the employ, but on the budget notion -- ploy, but on the budget notions. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentlem

mr. levin is recognize. >> i recognize myself for one minute. >> the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> bringing up this bill in this fashion is so egregious, the republicans have spent the last week pleading with wall street not to take it seriously. if republicans were being truthful, that would make they are looking for political cover. but in doing so, they risk blowing a hole in our nation's economy. they have acknowledged that their timing is an effort to change the subject less than a week after their plan to end medicare was dealt a major setback by the voters in the new york special election whose democratic winner will be sworn in tomorrow. to act in good faith, to solve our nation's fiscal problems, for a public and should focus not on this ploy but on the budget negotiations being led by the vice-president. our nation's debt is indeed a problem that requires serious solutions, not ploy's their risk another global financial crisis. i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gen

mr. levin, is recognized. mr. levin: i yield to a member of our committee, a minute and a half. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for a minute and 30 seconds. mr. pascrell: thank you, mr. eaker. we better not forget how we got here in the first place. the president, when he raised his hand in january of 2009 inherited a $10.6 trillion debt. let us not forget history. i know this is like a kabuke dance today. you are not only not sincere about this buthis is all process. the american people, the folks in my district are not interested in process, they are intereed in results. what are the results? how does this help the guy or gal on main street? that's what we should be talking about. this bill we know is going to fail. you already told your wall street friends, don't worry about it, don't take it serious. it's just like a reality show. the republicans have warned their wall street friends and as "the wall street journal" said today, they're in on this, quote-unquote, joke. b

mr. levin: i'll take 10 seconds. i think, mr. camp, s&p 500 did not down grade the threatened, let's be accurate. i now yield a minute and a half to a distinguished member of the ways and means committee, mr. rangel. mr. rangel: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for a minute and a half. mr. rangel: i think for those of us who are members of congress or within the beltway understand that this is a political things that's going on during one of the most serious financial times that our nation is facing. i only wonder whether or not our friends and creditors abroad or those that respect the united states and even try to follow our fiscal ways are they i -- thinking that this is the strongest country in the entire world. but for them to follow what we are doing, it is an embarrassment to the house as well as the senate, that the president of the united states of america would ask tha our country be safe from a fiscal point of view by allowi

mr. levin, thank you for coming back to "the communicators." >> guest: thank you very much. >> host: also joining us is eliza krigman of politico, a reporter there. it's been about a year since the national broadband plan which you spearheaded was introduce today the country. give us your assessment of the past year and its progress. >> guest: well, first, i think you have to understand what the plan really was, and what the plan was was an agenda-setting and target-clarifying device. that is to say, it was supposed to say here's the things we need to do over the next few years, and also here are targets that we either need to shoot for or shoot at. that is to say here's some really concrete proposals to move us toward action. and i think in that way it's been a very successful year. every debate that's going on with the exception of debates about mergers are really debates that are very, about how do we accomplish the goals of the broadband plan. and i think that in terms of agenda setting, it

if i could start, mr. levin, it's been about a year since the national broadband plan that you spearheaded was introduced to the country, give us your assessment of the past year and its progress. >> guest: well, first, you have to understand what the plan really was, and what the plan was was an agenda setting and target clarifying device. it was supposed to say, here's the things that we need to do over the next few years, and also here are targets we either need to shoot for or shoot at. here's to say there's concrete proposals to move us towards action. in that way, it's been a very, very successful year. every debate that's going on with the exception of dates about mergers are really debates that are very -- about how cowe accomplish the goals of the broadband plan. i think in terms of agenda setting, it did prove to be a very unifying and consensus kind of document, that everyone, the stake holders kind of agreed the kinds of things, universal service reform, rights of way reform were very important thing

mr. levin: we should learn from the past. there are indeed times when american national interests should overtake political or partisan political interests. i remember the debate on kosovo 12 years ago. congress refused to authorize american action by a split vote. that was a tragic mistake. house republican leadership opposed that resolution. 187 noes against 31 yeses. i believe it was clear then that republicans would not have opposed the kosovo resolution, at least in those numbers, if george bush had been president. today there are echoes from kosovo on this libyan resolution. the republicans should not make the same mistake again. we should join together to support the hastings resolution that's consistent with the war powers act. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from california. mr. berman: i'm going to yield -- mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from minnesota, mr. ellison. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota is recogni

mr. levin: i'll finish. so, instead of a bipartisan effort to save it, by this rule you are essentially deeming the budget that you passed that ended medicare. . so don't come and say you're saviors when you are eliminating a prom. -- program. stand up and be honest and say you want to replace it with something else. that something else is not medicare, it's turning over to the private insurance industry and saying to seniors who become eligible, who would be, instead you are going to double your costs. that's not forthright. if you vote again, if you vote yes on the rule, you are the second time voting to end medicare. i yield back. the speaker: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the chair will remind members that their remarks should be addressed to the chair. the gentleman from new york. >> before i yield to the gentleman from new york, i would just like to make it clear that in our house-passed budget on page 58, line 8 and 9, it is clearly articulated there that current medicare benefits ar

mr. levin: we should learn from the past.d times when american national interests should overtake political or partisan political interests. i remember the debate on kosovo 12 years ago. congress refused to authorize american action by a split vote. that was a tragic mistake. house republican leadership opposed that resolution. 187 noes against 31 yeses. i believe it was clear then that republicans would not have opposed the kosovo resolution, at least in those numbers, if george bush had been president. today there are echoes from kosovo on this libyan resoluti. the republicans should not make the same mistake again. we should join together to support the hastings resolution that's consistent with the war powers act. i yield back the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from california. mr. berman: i'm going to yield -- mr. speakeri'm pleased to yield a minute and a half to the gentlemafrom minnesota, mr. ellison. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota is recognized for a minute and a

mr. levin: we should learn from the past. there are indeed times when american national interests should overtake political or partisan political interests. i remember the debate on kosovo 12 years ago. congress refused to authorize american action by a split vote. that was a tragic mistake. house republican leadership opposed that resolution. 187 noes against 31 yeses. i believe it was clear then that republicans would not have opposed the kosovo resolution, at least in those numbers, if george bush had been president. today there are echoes from kosovo othis libyan resolution. the republicans should not make the same mistake again. we should join together to support the hastings resolution that's consistent with the war powers act. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from california. mr. berman: i'm going to yield -- mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from minnesota, mr. ellison. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota is recognize

mr. levis. levin. quite frankly, the department does not need a deputy director for administration. the director is in charge of administration and should not need another deputy director on top of the other three that are provided. additional requests as to why the specific language of proposition g was not

mr. levin: i thank the presiding officer. now, what the republicans have done is walk out of negotiations and say that they will not accept any deficit-reduction package if it includes revenue measures. let's call this for what it is. if republicans refuse to consider compromise solution, they are threatening all of us, the whole country, with economic catastrophe. in order to protect the sky-high income of millionaire hedge fund managers and offshore tax asroeurdz. those are -- avoiders. thoers two of the loopholes, two of many loopholes that we have identified that should be closed that the republicans refuse to consider closing. what they're doing, we should make no mistake about this, is holding the well-being of all americans hostage for the tax breaks of the wealthy few. mr. president, we all agree we must act to reduce the deficit. we've acknowledged as democrats the need for spending cuts, even painful cuts, the programs that we support. and that is why i am so troubled by the utter refusal of republicans to consider

mr. levis. levin. quite frankly, the department does not need a deputy director for administration. the director is in charge of administration and should not need another deputy director on top of the other three that are provided. additional requests as to why the specific language of proposition g was not codified in the charter. i believe that does not change the legality of the language. i'm curious to know. commissioner lee: i wanted to give you as much time as needed, but i'd like you to finish up comments. >> thank you, sir. i will talk fast. commissioner lee: you had a total of two minutes. >> i thought it was three minutes. commissioner lee: yes, but you have used three. >> again, it is only a page and a half. let me see where i am. ok, we will move on to the director's malfeasance, which is of course the more important topic. i think the problem goes further. i think she -- commissioner lee: can you get to the chase? can i make a suggestion? maybe we have that printed out and we will read it on our time. commissioner walker: the time for public comment is exceeded. maybe

mr. levin: we should learn from the past.eed times when american national interests should overtake political or partisan political interests. i remember the debate on kosovo 12 years ago. congress refused to authorize american action by a split vote. that was a tragic mistake. house republican leadership opposed that resolution. 187 noes against 31 yeses. i believe it was clear then that republicans would not have opposed the kosovo resolution, at least in those numbers, if george bush had been president. today there are echoes from kosovo on this libyan resolution. the republicans should not make the same mistake again. we should join together to support the hastings resolution that's consistent with the war powers act. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from california. mr. berman: i'm going to yield -- mr. speaker, i'm pleased to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from minnesota, mr. ellison. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from minnesota is recognized for a minu

mr. levin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from michigan. mr. levin: mr.resident, we must raise the debt ceiling, period. this is not an opinion. it is a fact. the consequences of failing to act are simply too catastrophic to consider any other course. negotiations are now under way seeking an agreement to raise the debt ceiling as part of a larger agreement on deficit reduction. there is a major obstacle to agreement: a refusal on the part of the republican leadership to compromise, a refusal to understand that sacrifice must be shared. the sacrifice they say must come from middle america, those struggling to pay for a college education or for health care for their kids or long-term care for their parents. the republican leaders demand that this sacrifice be made by the middle class in order to protect bush tax cuts and other tax breaks for the wealthiest among us, despite the huge and growing gap in the distribution of income in our country between the wealthy and the middle class. now, just one example of the kind of tax breaks and tax loopholes that we

mr. levin: madam president? madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: i ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up amendments 411 and 412. the presiding officer: is there objection? a senator: i reserve the right to object. mr. merkley: i reserve the right to object. the presiding officer: the consent request is pending. mr. mccain: madam president, i would is it ask unanimous consent to call up both amendments. it's my understanding that amendments are allowed. if there's some amendments that are not allowed, i think we ought to understand that. i understand the strength of the ethanol lobby, but there was an agreement that amendments that would be allowed to be called up. if that's not the case, then i would obviously have to resort to other parliamentary measures. i repeat my unanimous consent request to set aside the pending amendment and call up both amendments 411 and 412. the presiding officer: is there objection? hearing no objection. mr. mccain: thank you, madam president. the presiding officer: the clerk will

mistake in a strike this time on rebel forces near the levin oil port of bragger with a number of casualties not been disclosed do you hold me till you hold mr cameron mr sarkozy is this going to score any mr obama has already shown he could this possible for the deaths of these innocent children innocent was i mean here was an innocent fathers and mothers you cannot justify this attack the enemy was. sunday's fatal error he carries any the rising concerns within nato about his operation in northern africa only eight out of its twenty eight members have joined the mission to protect civilians in libya which raises the question how many would support one to kill them ration option or r t tripoli. with civilian deaths in there be a grow bigger balance among the taxpayers footing the bill for the military intervention the conflict is expected to cost one of its key players the hundreds of millions of pounds that was out there and it's reports the blow to britain's budget couldn't have come at a worse time. they're already calling it the billion pound war it's calculated that if the war in libya goes on for six months it will cost the british ta

mistake in a strike this time on rebel forces near the levin oil port of bragger with a number of casualties not been disclosed we who are nato who hold mr cameron mr sarkozy was going to score any mr obama has already found good dispensable for the deaths of these innocent children innocent was a hero an innocent fathers and mothers you cannot justify this at dikika the enemy was. sunday's fatal error he carries in with the rising concerns within nato about his operation in northern africa only eight out of its twenty eight members have joined the mission to protect civilians in libya which raises the question how many would support one to kill them. r t tripoli with civilian casualties in libya mounting a no end in sight those paying for intervention might be stumping up more of a bargain for the u.k. has announced that it's taxpayers might see one point six billion dollars of their hard earned cash diverted to fund the intervention i was at is more about reports though there's little patience left about an already dissolution public. there are already calling it the billion pound war it's calculated that if the war in libya goes on fo

mr. levin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from michigan. mr. vin: skilled that that be -- unanimous consent that that be called off. that the quorum call be called off. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. levin: and now i would ask unanimous consent that the quorum call time be equally divided between both sides. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. levin: now i would note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: mr. durbin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: i ask the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. durbin: i rise in strong support of president obama's nominee to serve as our 23rd secretary of defense, leon panetta. big shoes to fill. gates has had a remarkable term as secretary and a remarkable term in public service. in addition to the challenges -- the challenges our military faces in this economic climate are significant. we must have a serious discussion a