[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 83 (Monday, May 21, 2007)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1102-E1103] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] PERSONAL EXPLANATION ______ HON. RON LEWIS of kentucky in the house of representatives Monday, May 21, 2007 Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, on May 17, 2007 I left Washington to return to Kentucky to be with my family for a medical emergency. As a result, I missed the following votes: rollcall 375, ordering the Previous Question for the rule on S. Con. Res. 21, and had I been present I would have voted ``nay''; rollcall 376 on agreeing to the resolution for the debate of S. Con. Res. 21 and had I been present I would have voted ``nay''; rollcall 377 on passage of S. Con. Res. 21 and had I been present I would have voted ``nay.'' I oppose the Democrat Budget Conference Report because of the massive spending increases and higher tax burdens it places on Kentucky families. The budget outline includes $22 billion in new non-defense discretionary spending, three times more than the President's request. Worse still, this conference report sets the course for one of the largest tax increases in American history--at least $217 billion over the next five years. The budget also ignores repeated warnings about the unsustainable rate of growth in entitlement spending, failing again to address the fiscal crisis facing Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Our economy continues to enjoy one of the longest stretches of positive gain in recent memory. The out-of-control spending and massive tax increases outlined in this conference report threatens to bring our vibrant economy to a screeching halt. Also on May 17 during consideration of amendments to legislation concerning certain Government Sponsored Enterprises (H.R. 1427) I missed the following votes: rollcall 378, on agreeing to the Bachus amendment had I been present I would have voted, ``yea''; rollcall 379, on agreeing to the Hensarling amendment had I been present I would have voted, ``yea''; rollcall 380, on agreeing to the McHenry amendment had I been present I [[Page E1103]] would have voted, ``yea''; rollcall 381, on agreeing to the Kanjorski amendment had I been present I would have voted, ``nay''; rollcall 382 on agreeing to the Roskam amendment had I been present I would have voted, ``yea''; rollcall 383, on agreeing to the Garrett (NJ) amendment had I been present I would have voted, ``yea''. ____________________