- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is Right on Taxes
- Message to Mitt: A Rising Tide Lifts all Boats
- Obama’s Low-Ball Vision
- Newt Gingrich: I’m Not Against Capitalism
- Government Trying to ‘Cripple’ Banks: Dick Bove
- President's SOTU Should Be Like an Annual Report
- Obama Tax Hike 'Designed to Come at Me': Romney
- Blame Obama for Washington Gridlock: Sen. McConnell
SHOW TIMES
Weeknights 7p ET
CNBC Asia:
Saturday 07:00 SIN/HK
RSS FEED
MOST SHARED
- Criminal Probe Trail Going Cold at MF Global
- Global Markets Update: Markets Soften After Failure to Clinch Greek Deal
- Israel Likely to Bomb Iran This Year: Political Analyst
- Bank of America’s Worst-Case Scenario Gets More Real
- EU Agrees Rules for $700 Trillion Derivatives Market
- Stocks Seen Lower; Greek Debt Hurdles Remain
- CPAC 2012: Energized or Demoralized?
- Greek Aid Deal 'Much Better' Than Euro Exit: Summers
- Global Markets Update: European Markets Follow Asia Lower
- Greeks on Strike as the Second Bailout Is in Limbo
CONTACT US
We want to hear from you!
E-mail:
Money & Politics
Text Size 
Sen. Coburn on Why Financial Stabilization Plan Is Necessary
What follows is a brilliant statement by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) in support of the Senate bill governing the Treasury rescue plan. Senator Coburn is a man of extraordinary principles in defense of economic freedom. And let me say how wholeheartedly I agree with him. I wish other conservatives opposed to the Treasury bill would read Sen. Coburn’s statement very carefully.
Here's the full statement:
“Taxpayers deserve to know that there is no guarantee this plan will work, but there is a guarantee that we will face a financial catastrophe if we do nothing. If banks continue to fail and stop lending the average American could lose their job, be unable to secure a loan for a car, home or college education, and find their life savings and retirement in jeopardy. Our economy depends on having liquid assets available for credit and lending just as an automobile engine needs oil. If those liquid assets stop flowing, our economy will be seriously damaged and will require far more costly and lengthy repairs.”
“This bill does not represent a new and sudden departure from free market principles as much as it represents an emergency response to congressional actions that have ignored free market principles, and our Constitution, for decades. If anyone in Washington should offer their resignation it should be the members of Congress who peddled the fantasy of free home ownership without risk. No institution in our country is more responsible for the myth or borrowing without consequences than the United States Congress.”
“As much as members of Congress want to find scapegoats, the root of this problem is political greed in Congress. Members of Congress from both parties wanted short-term political credit for promoting home ownership even though they were putting our entire economy at risk by encouraging people to buy homes they couldn’t afford. Then, instead of conducting thorough oversight and correcting obvious problems with unstable entities like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, members of Congress chose to ignore the problem and distract themselves with unprecedented amounts of pork-barrel spending.”
“Taxpayers who want to ensure that this doesn’t happen again should send a very clear message to Washington that it’s time for Congress to live within its means and restore the principles of limited government and free markets that made this country great. I will do everything in my power to ensure that this bill does not lead us down a slippery slope of European style socialism and slow economic growth. I will also promise taxpayers that I will do everything in my power to block what I expect will be hundreds of attempts by politicians in Washington to continue business-as-usual borrowing and spending in the next Congress. In a time of crisis, American families have to make hard choices between budget priorities. So should Congress. If politicians want to create new programs they should eliminate duplicative programs or reduce funding for less important programs. The only way we can put this crisis behind us is for Congress to rejoin the real world of budget choices and consequences which, as we have seen in recent days, can be ignored for only so long.”
- How much did the Facebook founder pay for other shareholders' voting rights? Not a heck of a lot, says the NY Times.
- Here’s a look at Westminster Kennel Club’s most successful breeds and how much they cost.
- The oft-mentioned jobs "miracle" in European economic powerhouse Germany has a dark side that's largely escaped comment.
- When looking for that next career move, workers need to look at the differences between a start-up and a public firm.
- After enduring the recession, many Baby Boomers say money isn’t the most important thing they hope to leave to their kids.
- The ‘Fast Money’ traders weigh in on fashion related stocks from apparel to footwear to accessories and fragrances.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
