Mr. Speaker, Majority Leader Reid, members of the House and Senate: Thank you for joining me tonight in the continuation of our search for solutions to two of the most overwhelming issues facing this nation: the twin crises of jobs and deficit reduction.

I have spent the last few months in conversation with many of you and with Americans from all walks of life. I’ve consulted economists of different political stripes, and with former Republican and Democratic members of the House and Senate.

My inescapable conclusion is that urgent action is needed on both fronts.

First of all, please take a moment to look around this room. Look at those of us on this podium and look at your colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Look hard and deep and I believe you will join me in diagnosing the core of America’s problem at this point in history: Us!

We together were elected to be the leaders of this country, and we together are the problem in this country. We seem to have lost our ability to work with one another for a common vision and to seek solutions that serve a common good.

Instead, many among us have followed narrow interests of vociferous ideological factions and special interest groups. At every turn they have tried to find political leverage in order to trump the other side, thus demonstrating their loyalty to a rigid ideology rather than to the county.

This sort of behavior is tearing us apart, ripping the fabric that has made us a great nation for the past 235 years: the character, will and spirit of the American people.

By our words and actions we have divided the country for the sake of political gain. Instead of thoughtfully and respectfully debating opposite sides of complex issues we demonize those with whom we disagree, perhaps believing that all shall be well if the “other side” is defeated.

We often substitute partisan posturing, fear mongering and pithy slogans for fact-finding, substantive analysis and viable alternatives in service of a better future for all Americans.

The facts of our dilemma are clear: Our deficit is trillions of dollars too high and millions of Americans remain unemployed.

Still, we’ve focused on reducing an insurmountable deficit while neglecting the work of getting America back to work. Not one of us wins if we focus on debt instead of securing jobs and income for those able and eager to work.

The nation’s infrastructure (from roads, bridges and dams to school buildings and national parks) is crumbling. Attending to “this house” will provide those American jobs.

Despite spending more money per capita on healthcare than most other western countries, we rank close to the bottom among our peer nations in wellbeing statistics— from maternal and child health, to life expectancy among adult men and women.

Our education system (from preschool through high school) is suffering, and higher education is becoming too expensive for middle and low-income families. No Child Left Behind has failed to address these crumbling systems, and the educational future of our children is in danger.

We have been totally irresponsible by neglecting climate change and other environmental issues in the name of “fiscal responsibility” and protecting corporate profits. We are threatening the future livability of our planet for short-term financial and narrow political gain—once again, profits for a few trump the wellbeing of the whole.

It is true that some environmental policies, such as limiting ozone emissions, carry a big price tag. Even so, regulatory action must be taken, but should be timed in a way that protects the economy, benefits the environment, and creates jobs with a future toward a decreasing dependence on oil and an increased focus on alternative energy.

I have tried to build a common agenda to remedy these and other pressing issues that face the United States today, and I have tried to accommodate both Republicans and Democrats in my proposals.

But, fierce partisan attacks have aggressively thwarted my attempts at every turn. Even when I have proposed an idea previously advocated by Republicans, it has too often been defeated or dismissed without a hearing.

There seems to be an irrational fear among some Republicans that I might get credit for doing something good, which in turn might help me politically. It seems that these people would rather see the nation suffer than to have this Democrat get due credit.

My response, however, has been to resist the low road of taking personally the rants of naysayers. Instead I continue to keep my eyes on the prize of our National Good by negotiating with both parties, trying to find that elusive “common ground.”

But it is clear that in this environment partisanship trumps statesmanship, and as leader McConnell clearly said: “The primary Republican goal is to make Obama a one-term president.”

I am here to tell you and Americans that my part in this absurdly destructive dance stops tonight. There will be no more bartering for the mirage of consensus across the aisles.

There will be no more attempts by me to meet obstructionism “halfway.” There will be no more coddling bizarre ideas and stubborn personalities for the purpose of “building a majority.”

Instead, I propose:

1. A massive investment in fixing the nation’s infrastructure through a long-term commitment to a “Get America to Work” program. It will provide millions of jobs to repair our waterways, bridges, dams, levees, public buildings, roads and national parks;

2. Institute a Federally-funded Re-entry College to prepare service men and women for jobs in the private sector;

3. Create an infrastructure “bank” to ensure that once the necessary repairs are made we can do the maintenance required to ensure a viable future;

4. Establish an Environmental Protection Fund that will ease the fiscal path for making the changes needed to ensure clean air and water. The funds will come from increasing the gas tax to reflect the true cost of fossil fuels;

5. Expand and improve the healthcare plan passed by Congress in 2010 by adding a public option into the competitive mix;

6. Repeal the Bush tax cuts for incomes over $300,000;

7. Extend the payroll tax holiday through 2012 and include small business employers in this program;

8. Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire and retain employees;

9. Beginning in 2013, raise the level of income taxable under the payroll tax for Social Security and Medicare from  $106,000 to $2 million. This will ensure that the very wealthy pay the same percentage of tax as middle income and minimum wage earners;

10. Adjust the cost of living index for Social Security benefits;

11. Increase the age for receiving full benefits to 67, and tax benefits at a higher rate if total income of a recipient exceeds $500,000;

12. Base the level of premium and co-pay in Medicare on a “means test,” with high income beneficiaries paying more;

13. Eliminate tax deductions for any portion of home mortgages over $500,ooo, and limit the deduction to one home per family;

14. Institute a luxury tax on cars costing more than the median price in the country plus 25%, and on boats, motorhomes and airplanes that cost more than $200,000;

15. Tax hedge-fund managers at the same rate as other income earners;

16. Increase the capital gains tax to 20%;

17. Eliminate billions of dollars of tax loopholes that benefit business, and lower the business tax rate to a flat 25%. Add a windfall profit tax, and eliminate government subsidies to big businesses and corporate agriculture;

18. Create new income tax categories for the amount of personal annual income exceeding $1 million, $2 million, $10 million, and $20 million;

19. Continue an inheritance tax on the amount of estates exceeding $10 million, with an exception for inheriting a family farm or business as long as the family continues the business for at least five years.

20. Trim $1.5 trillion from our discretionary spending, including defense.

I say to you as clearly as I know how:

Tonight in this speech you have received an outline of my plan of action. One week from today you will get the details in a single, comprehensive bill that will be drafted in clear, comprehensible English.

I will pursue its passage relentlessly. I plan to take it to the American people tomorrow, and the next day, and every day until you act.

I have asked Senator Reid to introduce the bill implementing my plan before October 15, and to bring it up for a vote over and over and over again, day after day until it breaks the filibusters that I anticipate.

Amend it if you must, defeat it if you dare, but be on notice:

I challenge  narrow ideologues to go public as they cast vote after vote against jobs for the American people; against a $4 trillion plus reduction of our deficit by 2020; against a healthcare system that ensures affordable access for all Americans; against repairing our decaying schools, roads and buildings; against a fiscal fix for Medicare and Social Security; and against tax fairness.

Wherever you stand, those you claim to represent are watching. Ask yourself, “If I were not working, without healthcare, without affordable housing and living in a climate that has gone through drastic changes, would my loved ones and neighbors benefit the most with the stand I am taking with this vote?”

Thank you for your attention.