Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, we oppose this rule, and we oppose the measure that it makes in order, the conference report on Interior appropriations for fiscal year 1996. The rule waives all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration. One major reason why the conference report needs such a rule is that it contains numerous violations of clause 2 of rule XXI, the rule that prohibits legislation, that is policy matters, in an appropriations bill. Admittedly, it is nearly impossible to avoid violating rule XXI entirely in an appropriations bill, but the Committee on Rules usually tries, or at least we did try, Mr. Speaker, in previous congresses, to prevent flagrant intrusions on the jurisdiction of authorizing committees in these appropriations bills. That is not the case here. The conference report contains far-reaching changes in policies governing the use of our Nation's natural resources, or, as the Los Angeles Times recently put it, it is, and I quote, Mr. Speaker, 'swollen with hidden attacks on the public lands, national parks, and the environment.' This rule is what makes it possible for the House to move forward and to consummate those attacks.”