Yet the man who went on to become the Republican speaker of the House has also endorsed steep spending cuts that would decimate social programmes for the poor.
At four hearings this week, most speakers endorsed that goal, but objected to the steep proposed increases, which would raise tolls for drivers paying cash to $7, from $4.
The speaker is fully aware of the inequities between master and servant ("the steep paths you have made or your father and grandfather made all over my property") but also fully enjoys the system's benefits.
A keynote speaker at the conference was John Paulson, the billionaire manager who has recently absorbed steep losses across a number of his strategies.
Speakers of an Arhuacan language, the Cágaba have lived in this region of steep ravines and narrow valleys for many centuries.
When the current speaker corresponded to the worm's bias, movements in the positive direction were 25% steeper than the unbiased worm, and movements in the negative direction were 25% less steep.
Some of the speakers were skeptical, pointing out that bondholders are likely to be asked to accept a steep cut in the value of their holdings, and that Greece will still pay a high price on its remaining debt.
Conversely, when the current speaker corresponded to a candidate not favoured by a worm, movements in the positive direction were 25% less steep than the unbiased worm, and movements in the negative direction were 25% steeper.
