Jon Kyl: “I will conclude by making two points. First of all, the question on cloture is not whether to allow the program to go…”

“I will conclude by making two points. First of all, the question on cloture is not whether to allow the program to go forward but whether it will be paid for or, in effect, the money taken from next year, in which case then next year's money will have to be taken from the year after that, and so forth. So it is a question of how we pay for it. The average temperature in July of last year in Arizona was just under 100 degrees. It was about 98 degrees. It is a matter of life and death. Eighteen people died in Arizona, and there was no money available in Arizona for this program. By the time we found we could get a contingency of $183 million, it was too late. So while we would like to see the program continue, we would like to see it paid for and also we would like to see the formula modified so those people who suffer from the heat have as much of an opportunity to participate as those who have trouble from the cold weather. As a result, assuming that cloture is invoked, what we will be urging is that the next billion dollars be spent pursuant to a formula that more fairly divides the money among the various States, all of which have problems, but they are just different kinds of problems. And we will be able to debate that at that time. Mr. President, I yield back all of the remaining time so we can go ahead with the vote. Cloture Motion The PRESIDING OFFICER.…”