Floor SpeechUrgent2025-03-27

PURE BAIT AND SWITCH

HealthcareDefenseEducationEthics

Context

On 2025-03-27, Representative Dave Min (D-CA-47) delivered a floor speech titled "PURE BAIT AND SWITCH" in the House. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered defense, education.

Full Text

PURE BAIT AND SWITCH

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 56 (Thursday, March 27, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 56 (Thursday, March 27, 2025)] [House] [Page H1318] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PURE BAIT AND SWITCH (Mr. MIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. MIN. Mr. Speaker, Elon Musk spent $277 million supporting Donald Trump's campaign last year. In return, Trump has done all he can to support Musk's business ventures, awarding billions in potential contracts to Tesla and SpaceX. Trump even turned the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom to try to boost Tesla sales. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose investment firm owns hundreds of millions in Tesla stock, went on national TV to try to increase Tesla's sagging stock price. Our own colleague, Ms. Marjorie Taylor Greene, spent thousands of dollars buying Tesla stock this year and then tried to weaponize the DOJ to help increase Tesla sales. This is all blatantly unethical, and much of it is illegal. At the same time, Ms. Greene's DOGE subcommittee, following the example of Elon Musk in February, is calling for the defunding of NPR and PBS. Yes, Elon and Marjorie Taylor Greene are trying to kill Elmo. However, here is the thing: Public broadcasting receives just a tiny fraction of funding compared to the government contracts Elon stands to gain. In fact, if you take away the new military contract for cybertrucks alone, you will pay for all of PBS and NPR. Unlike cybertrucks, PBS and NPR won't get recalled because they are falling apart. What is happening right now is pure bait and switch. Republicans are trying to slash Medicaid, public schools, and programs like PBS so they can give billions to Elon Musk and his fellow oligarchs. The corruption we are seeing right now is outrageous, unprecedented, and cannot stand. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President. ____________________

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PURE BAIT AND SWITCH Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 56 (Thursday, March 27, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 56 (Thursday, March 27, 2025)] [House] [Page H1318] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PURE BAIT AND SWITCH (Mr. MIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. MIN. Mr. Speaker, Elon Musk spent $277 million supporting Donald Trump's campaign last year. In return, Trump has done all he can to support Musk's business ventures, awarding billions in potential contracts to Tesla and SpaceX. Trump even turned the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom to try to boost Tesla sales. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose investment firm owns hundreds of millions in Tesla stock, went on national TV to try to increase Tesla's sagging stock price. Our own colleague, Ms. Marjorie Taylor Greene, spent thousands of dollars buying Tesla stock this year and then tried to weaponize the DOJ to help increase Tesla sales. This is all blatantly unethical, and much of it is illegal. At the same time, Ms. Greene's DOGE subcommittee, following the example of Elon Musk in February, is calling for the defunding of NPR and PBS. Yes, Elon and Marjorie Taylor Greene are trying to kill Elmo. However, here is the thing: Public broadcasting receives just a tiny fraction of funding compared to the government contracts Elon stands to gain. In fact, if you take away the new military contract for cybertrucks alone, you will pay for all of PBS and NPR. Unlike cybertrucks, PBS and NPR won't get recalled because they are falling apart. What is happening right now is pure bait and switch. Republicans are trying to slash Medicaid, public schools, and programs like PBS so they can give billions to Elon Musk and his fellow oligarchs. The corruption we are seeing right now is outrageous, unprecedented, and cannot stand. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President. ____________________