We must set priorities and make tough choices on how to cut spending.

Will you commit to getting us the details of what the $55 million is going to be spent on so there is transparency to the American people and to Congress?

I applaud you for that, but it doesn't justify you spending those dollars unwisely or inappropriately, would you agree?

I believe it is a severe abuse of a confirmation process. The confirmation process should center on the qualifications of an individual, not on attempting to change the underlying bill.

this notion that the Director cannot be removed is fanciful.

I would hope, Mr. Chairman, that this is something that the committee might roll up our sleeves and do some work this year providing some budget committee leadership.

When Congressman Aderholt learned of and questioned the claimed issues, your Department admitted there were no budgetary and logistical concerns.

I happen to represent Catholic Charities in my Congressional district and welcome that.

I mean, we were losing 750,000 jobs a month the day President Obama was sworn in; $17 trillion of wealth was already destroyed in the stock market; and you inherited a $1.5 trillion annual budget deficit.

So the dollars your Bureau spends are dollars not returned to the taxpayers. We just need to make certain that every dollar is accounted for and that every dollar is wisely spent. That is our obligation.

I appreciate your calling this hearing. I know we are all looking forward to the hearing in part because there is a lot of talk in this town about honest budgeting and transparency in government.

I am going to ask you your thoughts on the insourcing initiative that this administration is focused on, and I am glad to see that today the President is in my home State, Milwaukee, visiting Master Lock.

I supported it, because looking back in retrospect, if we had a balanced budget amendment in place, it might have made it a little bit difficult to pass the 2001, 2003 tax cuts without paying for them or entering into two major wars in…

I believe that a global economic power like us has to have the ability to make and invent and produce things again.

I don't see how OMB policy can be a bar to the Bureau providing its current year spending plan to the Congress.

We need more than what has been provided currently in order for us to do our due diligence.

I agree. The sense is you don't lose the trustability for the Federal Government.

But that goes--what I am saying is now here comes the Secretary, that is proposing fracking rules that apply to lands other than public lands, to Native lands.