Political Quotes

“I rise to respectfully oppose the gentleman from New Jersey's amendment to essentially do an across-the-board cut in national laboratory staff of one-third. I want to say at the outset that there are two national laboratories in New Mexico, but these two national laboratories fall jurisdictionally more on the military side of funding and would not be affected by the gentleman's bill, and I emphasize that to point out that my particular State would not be affected by the bill if it does become law. However, I want to emphasize that I think it is a mistake to come forward with the idea of a one-third across-the-board cut. I would say that my colleague from New Mexico, Mr. Richardson's, amendment is a better approach if we have to act in this bill. However, I believe that both are unnecessary. It is my view, Mr. Chairman, that every agency, and every program, funded by the Federal Government does indeed have an obligation to look to see how it can operate more efficiently, more effectively, and in a better way for the taxpayers, and nobody is exempt from that, not the national laboratories, including the national laboratories that are in New Mexico, as far as that goes, but an across-the-board cut is not based upon any finding of there is a more efficient way of doing things.”