Bill Clinton: “I come to the Senate in support of the Dorgan amendment to this supplemental appropriations. I come also having been the…”

“I come to the Senate in support of the Dorgan amendment to this supplemental appropriations. I come also having been the beneficiary of the week-long recess, traveling throughout my State talking to many people, hearing what is on their minds, trying to answer their questions and drawing some conclusions about where we stand in our country on the important issue concerning the mission in Iraq and the President's request for $87 billion. I talked with New Yorkers from Syracuse to Staten Island. At every stop, I had questions and concerns expressed about this request for $87 billion. New Yorkers are concerned that this money is being asked for and will be spent with no real plan for how we move toward the goal in Iraq to create an independent, functioning government that is able to stabilize the situation there with adequate security, begin providing services to the Iraqi people, and move toward self-sufficiency. I also was faced with many questions about how we intend to pay for our commitment to Iraq and to our military forces since we are faced with record deficits and increasing debt. Time and time again, I heard my constituents echo the concerns of the senior Senator from Florida, Mr. Graham, who pointed out eloquently in the Senate a short while ago how in effect we are asking our children and their generation to pay for the decisions we make today because we refuse to take responsibility for them.”