Shelley Berkley for Congress

(February 23, 2010)  Congresswoman Shelley Berkley spoke from the House floor in support of new jobs legislation that will help put Nevadans back to work.  The Congresswoman also addressed the need to pass tough Wall Street reforms, and highlighted how the Recovery Act delivered funding to Nevada for education, Medicaid, roads and unemployment compensation.

Berkley Floor Statement Transcript

“I represent the most unique city on the planet, the City of Las Vegas.  It’s a great place with great people, but we are hurting and my constituents are angry.  I’ve got the second highest unemployment rate in the country, the highest mortgage foreclosure rate in the country.  460,000 Nevadans have no health insurance.

“The stimulus bill saved our State.  Money for education and Medicaid, unemployment compensation, job creation, infrastructure improvements -- but we need to do more.  We need to pass a jobs bill to get more people back to work.  We need to pass health care reform to provide medical care for those that can’t afford it on their own.

“And finally for the financial industry, whose reckless behavior put this nation and the rest of the world in a deep recession, Congress must pass meaningful Wall Street reform and consumer protection.  I know we talk all the time about Wall Street being a casino.  Coming from Las Vegas and representing Las Vegas, let me assure you, no casino on the planet behaves as irresponsibly and recklessly as Wall Street does.  Wall Street ought to be ashamed, and take a lesson from the casino industry.”