RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
So ordered. Rep. Tlaib: I want to cut through the b.s.s because – B.S. because I‘m from Detroit and would like to speak truth to power. The American people are in a constitutional crisis could this billionaire, I don ‘t know how to describe him. To think he can just walk into an agency that I can tell you from any of my families, Social Security and Medicare – it is literally part of how they survive in our country. It‘s not just about the private information, it‘s about the fact that this person, who they – they did not elect him and he‘s not held accountable to the community a public, they are living in fear right now. We are in a constitutional crisis. One of the things I continue to talk to our ranking member about and thinking about even the folks that voted for the president and others, if I was to ask the American people, you think Elon Musk cares about you? Do you think he cares about your disabled child that relies on the Department of Education services? Do you think he cares for any of our families right now no matter how hard they work that are still in survivor mode and not thriving? The disconnect – his lived expanse will never connect to the family in North Dakota, the teacher in Detroit, the child trying to survive through the education program living with autism and so much more. I‘m just curious, really, do you think Elon Musk cares about the American people? Mr. Schatz: I don‘t think that‘s the issue, I think the question is what will be done about the debt? Rep. Tlaib: you want to talk about the debt, but Congress are in control. Why not go to the public process? If you want to make cuts, voted to cut it. Why are you having this person do it? Are you giving him your power as unelected person representing 750,000 people? You represent the equal number of people I do and I want to chance to vote on this and hear from constituents and have it done in a public process. You want to deal with it, you are in power. You have a trifecta. the White House, the Senate and the house. No, you want to do it this way. The cruelty of it, the fact that even American people no matter political affiliation, I‘m telling you right now, feel like they have no control over the decisions being made because members of Congress have circumvented and said go ahead and do it for us. Even though they know it will impact farmers, veterans, disabled residents, folks living with disability, and so much more of the info structure you don‘t understand support all of our families. You can keep talking about the debt. They have control and candy what the debt if that‘s what they want to do, but instead they are yielding power to Elon Musk who is unelected, and we can continue to say that but one of the things around the country, they don‘t want Elon Musk making that decision, they want their member of Congress who is elected making that decision and that‘s the problem. The chair knows this, but your district. Come here and but your district, if your district want you to cut these various programs, cut the Department of Education, go ahead and vote on it. Introduce a bill to cut the Department of Education. Do not say I don‘t have – you are literally giving it to this person and it doesn‘t make any sense. Do you think the American people think Elon Musk cares about them? Dr. Resh: I don‘t think the American people should really care what he thinks. They should have someone making decisions who has taken an oath to the Constitution. Rep. Tlaib: that is very important, isn‘t it? the Constitution gives Congress control overspending. Not the president and not Elon Musk and the American people need to understand why that balance of government is there, to protect all of us from these kinds of decisions that are hurting people now. Mr. Chair, just know this, this is the same way and – same man who wants to cut but he has $20 billion in federal contracts. He‘s the richest man on earth and he still taking a handout from the public. $20 billion. If it‘s really about that and not hurting public infrastructures that really are critical and important for the most vulnerable, and you be surprised him the people in your community into districts no matter political affiliation, will be harmed by these decisions that again, over past the congressional process. It is our duty and responsibility to authorize spending and cuts. We should be able to do it, not Elon Musk. I yield.