Bob Filner: “Mr. Chairman, the arguments the gentlewoman just made were extremely good. I support the gentlewoman's amendment. And I…”

“Mr. Chairman, the arguments the gentlewoman just made were extremely good. I support the gentlewoman's amendment. And I need to be nice to her, since she represents my daughter up in Bedford, New York. So I thank her for her representation. But, once again, I cannot fail to point out that the logic of the budget that the majority party is pushing and that the gentlewoman voted for and refused to amend is pushing toward exactly the situation that she wants to prevent. I am with the gentlewoman. I think we should do exactly what the gentlewoman said. And she has laid out a rational, objective policy for the VA to follow. Unfortunately, we are putting them in the position, by underfunding them, that they are going to have to take positions that none of us will like when it comes to health care. And as the gentlewoman said earlier in regard to the debate on another matter, if they do not do this, they are going to cut quality or cut services. Something has got to give if they do not have enough money, and assuming they are using the money efficiently and assuming they are using the money to the best degree. And we all have to question that, and the gentlewoman's amendment asks for that.”