Celia Israel: “Two responses to my friend from Georgia: Number one, the law that he cites does not analyze the impact of budget and tax…”

“Two responses to my friend from Georgia: Number one, the law that he cites does not analyze the impact of budget and tax decisions that we engage in here in Washington, D.C. So the gentleman's response, with all due respect, in the world, is wrong. Secondly, I do find it ironic that this entire debate has focused on the critical need for more information. I have heard my friends talk about the need for a complete picture; except when it comes to local taxpayers, we don't want that information, we don't need to see that picture, and we will continue to pass legislation and pass the bill to those local taxpayers. So, for all the high-minded speeches that we hear from my friends about needing to protect the taxpayer, opposing this amendment essentially says to the taxpayer you foot the bill for the decisions we make here. So we talk about cutting taxes and we put out our press releases and we pat ourselves on the back for cutting Federal taxes and cutting spending when what we are really doing is stabbing local taxpayers in the back with those decisions. With that, I yield back the balance of my time. The CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel). The question was taken; and the Chair announced that the noes appeared to have it.”