mr. van hollen. mr. van hollen: thank you, mr. speaker. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 3-b of house resolution 493, the house stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on friday -- >> mr. speaker. mr. speaker -- mr. speaker, we would like to ask unanimous consent that we bring up the bill to extend the tax cut for 160 million americans as you walk off the floor, mr. speaker. you're walking out. you're walking away just as so many republicans have walked away from middle class taxpayers. the unemployed. and very frankly as well from those who will be seeking medical assistance from their doctors, 48 million senior citizens. we regret, mr. speaker, that you have walked off the platform without addressing the issue of critical importance to this country. and that is the continuation of the middle class tax cut, the continuation of unemployment benefits for those tha

mr. van hollen: thank you. the speaker pro tempore: the time of the gentlelady from maryland has expired. mr. van hollen: thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan rise? mr. camp: mr. speaker, i withdraw my reservation and seek time in opposition to the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: the reservation is withdrawn and the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. mr. camp: mr. speaker. this motion to recommit is a further illustration of the glaring differences in priorities between republicans and democrats. republicans have brought a plan to the floor today that is about protecting taxpayers and creating american jobs. and instead of joining us on that important task, my democratic friends are offering yet another politically motivated motion. in fact, one senior democratic aide recently said to the press, and i quote, m.t.r.'s are all political. you can read it right here. my colleagues nth and the american people should not be fooled. they

mr. van hollen. mr. van hollen: thank you, mr. speaker. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 3-b of house resolution 493, the house stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on friday -- >> mr. speaker. mr. speaker -- mr. speaker, we would like to ask unanimous consent that we bring up the bill to extend the tax cut for 160 million americans as you walk off the oor, mr. speaker. you're walking out. you're walking away just as so many republicans have walked away from middle class taxpayers. the unemployed. and very frankly as well from those who will be seeking medical assistance from their doctors, 48 million senior citizens. we regret, mr. speaker, that you have walked off the platform without addressing the issue of criticalmportance to this country. and that is the continuation of the middle class tax cut, the continuation of unemployment benefits for those that ri

mr. van hollen, who is ranking on the budget committee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from maryland is recognized for three minutes. mr. van hollen: thank you, mr. speaker. i thank the gentleman from michigan. the american people should understand very clearly what's going on here right now. and that is that the republican majority in this house of representatives is refusing, is refusing to allow a vote in this house on the senate bipartisan compromise. they are refusing to even allow a vote on a bill that received 89 of 100 votes in the senate, including 85% of the senate republicans. what are they so afraid of? it's very clear that the republican leadership is afraid that that same bipartisanship that took place in the senate will take place right here in the house. because they don't want a bipartisan bill. otherwise we would have a vote on it. what we are witnessing today, mr. speaker, is the triumph of tea party extremism over the good of the country. the sad part is we probably shouldn't be surprised because it was just a fe

chris van hollen from maryland. >> thank you, mr. hoyer, and thank all of you for joining us today. the speaker of the house who is just at this podium. and as i heard his remarks, it was very clear he's not listening to the american people. just like the house republicans did not listen to the american people when they threatened to have the united states default on its debts for the first time in its history. just like they have not listened to the american people when it comes to taking up the jobs bill that the president sent to the congress many, many months ago and they've refused to act on it. that's not really surprising anymore. but you would have thought maybe, just maybe, they would listen to some of their senate republican colleagues. 80% of whom voted for a bipartisan compromise to make sure -- >> okay. steny hoyer, chris van hollen making comments. grover, i think that the minority whip was listening to our conversation, at least that's what it would appear. he incited your name. what's your response to him saying that you don't want a solution here? >> well, he also s

mr. van hollen, who is ranking on the budget committee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from maryland is recognized for three minutes. mr. van hollen: thank you, mr. speaker. i thank the gentleman from michigan. the american people should understand very clearly what's going on here right now. and that is that the republican majority in this house of representatives is refusing, is refusing to allow a vote in this house on the senate bipartisan compromise. they are refusing to even allow a vote on a bill that received 89 of 100 votes in the senate, including 85% of the senate republicans. what are they so afraid of? it's very clear that the republican leadership is afraid that that same bipartisanship that took place in the senate will take place right here in the house. because they don't want a bipartisan bill. otherwise we would have a vote on it. what we are witnessing today, mr. speaker, is the triumph of tea party extremism over the good of the country. the sad part is we probably shouldn't be surprised because it was just a fe

million seniors who rely on them daily for their health and i am pleased to yield to my friend mr van hollen. and you know the silence of that's one speaker cut the mike in fact following the incidents c.-span tweeted saying c.-span has no control over the u.s. house t.v. cameras the speaker of the house to now the words boehner pulled the plug on what was happening in the people's house to save his party from embarrassment so over the next ten days the only hope for republicans is for them to win the ensuing media battle and here is how they're planning to try to do it a week ago the house passed a bunch of right wing stuff with a year long extension tagged onto it was in this whole grab bag right wing goodies and a year long extension of the payroll tax cut and the unemployment checks. but you know there was nothing real to him that was so much crazy stuff bear call on the senate to consider this bill that he had passed rather then the house considering the senate bill his memon this is what the this is what they're promoting this is now kind of the official republican talking point or the

mr. van hollen. >> thank you, mr. hoyer.naudible] [inaudible] >> will return for another pro forma session 10 a.m. eastern friday, and we'll have that live on c-span. >> with the iowa caucus and new hampshire primary next month, the contenders looks back at 14 men who ran for president and had a long lasting impact on politics. here's the line up for this week. >> now texas governor, rick perry, on a bus tour through iowa. sunday was the final campaign stop in decorah, iowa in the northwest corner of the state talking about immigration, energy independence, and changing the regulatory process. this is an hour. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> okay. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> hello, and last time i saw a crowd like this, we had eight people running for county supervisor. you know, at least you're not all running for something. it's a great pleasure to introduce -- i'm mike englehart, some of you know me, i teach at luther, share the republican party o

mr. van hollen mentioned yesterday are differences between the two parties and i will have to be addressed. this agreement we have reached today gives us the opportunity to do that which was the intention of the senate and why we were so supportive of adopting the senate bill and why i am pleased we did that. >> can i briefly comment? you mentioned many of these issues are within the ways and means committee. we will sit down at a conference table to try to work out differences. those differences have been expressed before they are some bigger ones that need to be worked out. >> the three of you were appointed as conferees. when will you be starting negotiations? >> right away. >> senator harry reid and leader nancy pelosi have indicated they are prepared to move forward immediately following the holidays which means the first week in january. >> you have been here an awful long time, >> i don't like the way you say that. [laughter] >> i have been here a productive period of time. [laughter] >> john dingell said that i hope the tea party and the members will follow john boehner. rarely hav

mr. van hollen, mr. becerra, mr. levin. is not about politics. it is not even about policy. it is about trying to make sure that bad things to do not happen to good people 10 days from now. the senate has agreed overwhelmingly, the democrats in the house of representatives to a person support this extension, it unanimously supports this extension. the president of the united states supports this extension. which means that if you try to make percentages of it, and 4/5 of the decision makers agree on moving this forward now. to prevent habad things happening from good people. yes, we can deal with the politics, but let us not hold hostage those 160 million, 2.2 million, 48 million people over the next nine days until one side is bludgeoned, which is what is being attempted, into agreeing on that which 4/5 of the decision makers have said we don't have agreement on. we do have agreement on this. let's move forward. questions. >> senate minority leader mcconnell has come out with a compromise. he says that if harry reid would agree to appoint conferees, house republicans would

mr. van hollen mentioned yesterday are differences between the two parties and i will have to be addressed. this agreement we have reached today gives us the opportunity to do that which was the intention of the senate and why we were so supportive of adopting the senate bill and why i am pleased we did that. >> can i briefly comment? you mentioned many of these issues are within the ways and means committee. we will sit down at a conference table to try to work out differences. those differences have been expressed before they are some bigger ones that need to be worked out. >> the three of you were appointed as conferees. when will you be starting negotiations? >> right away. >> senator harry reid and leader nancy pelosi have indicated they are prepared to move forward immediately following the holidays which means the first week in january. >> you have been here an awful long time, >> i don't like the way you say that. [laughter] >> i have been here a productive period of time. [laughter] i hope dingell said that the tea party and the members will follow john boehner. rarely have we hea

mr. van hollen of maryland and mr. larsen of -- larson of connecticut, would strengthen public finance of elections, not weaken it, as this bill does. when servicers of funds are concealed what message does this send to the country? it sends the message that we don't care where we get our contributions as long as they are secret. this is wrong. this is the best course of action. across the country states make it harder for voters to cast a ballot. new laws requiring vote identification and eliminating the days for early voting are all part of an ert to limit voter participation an turnout. voters have noticed and have already started to push back. this was the case in maine last month when they used the people's veto to throw out a law passed by the republican legislator and governor to limit the state's successful same-day voter registration program, which has been in place for 40 years. in other state, restrictive new laws may be forced onto the ballot for possible repeal and referendums in 2012. if that wasn't bad e

mr. van hollen. >> [inaudible] host: that was the scene yesterday on the house floor. again, you heard a little bit of congressman chris van hollen and then his microphone was killed and there were no shots of representative steny hoyer because the camera was on the podium. those cameras are controlled by the house gallery. in the past, c-span put requests into speaker pelosi and to speaker boehner and to speaker gingrich to allow c-span to have cameras inside the chamber but you basically saw what we saw and we were forced to go to other program as the house conclude business yesterday morning. back to your calls. should the speaker accept the senate bill? next is my joining us from st. paul, minnesota. caller: good morning. i appreciate your program. two fast points -- i say, 1, no. i can't imagine that the senate could pass or put forward a 60- day law when in fact they need to put forward a 365-day law. it is untenable they cannot camp -- , with a 365-day law. it is a political maneuver on president obama's part. the second point -- i listened to a tax accountant c

mr. van hollen of maryland and mr. larsen of -- larson of connecticut, would stngthen public finance of elections, not weaken it, as this bill does. when servicers of funds are concealed what message does this send to the country? it sends the message that we don't care where we get our contributions as long as they are secret. this is wrong. this is the best course of action. across the country states make it harder for voters to ct a ballot. new laws requiring vote identification and eliminating the days for early votg are all part of an ert to limit voter participation an turnout. voters have noticed and have already started to push back. this was the case in maine last month when they used the people's veto to throw out a law passed by the republan legislator and governor to limit the state's successful same-day voter registration program, which has been in place for 40 years. in other state, restrictive new laws may be forced onto the ballot for possible repeal and referendums in 2012. if that wasn't bad enough, o

chris van hollen from maryland. >> thank you, mr. hoyer, and thank all of you for joining us today.to the speaker of the house who was just at this podium a short time ago, and as i heard his remarks, it was very clear that he's not listening to the american people. just like the house republicans did not listen to the american people when they threatened to have the united states default on its debts for the first time in its history, just like they have not listened to the american people when it comes to taking up the jobs bill that the president sent to the congress many, many months ago, and they've refused to act on it. that's not really surprising anymore. but you would have thought maybe, just maybe they would listen to some of their senate republican colleagues. 80% of whom voted for a bipartisan compromise to make sure that 160 million americans didn't see a tax increase come january, who worked together on a bipartisan basis to make sure that 2.2 million americans won't lose their unemployment benefits because they can't find a job through no fault of their own, and makin