Brian Bilbray: “I was sort of torn on which side I should ask for time from, seeing that I am working with both sides on this issue, and…”

“I was sort of torn on which side I should ask for time from, seeing that I am working with both sides on this issue, and I think that this is a classic example of bipartisan and bicoastal cooperation. Mr. Chairman, I think that, first of all, I want to praise the gentlewoman from Michigan, because I think a lot of people, because of partisan concerns, do not want to come up and say our side has really created an unacceptable situation, and I want to commend her for that. Because I think a lot of people on this side are saying, why has not anybody been willing to admit that wrongs have been done in the recent past? I think, on the flip side, there have been things happening historically in the far past that have not been addressed; and I think we all admit, no matter what our party affiliation, that this issue has become so chronic and so obvious and so outrageous that this amendment should be made in order and should be adopted by even those of us who cringe, as the gentleman from Massachusetts and the gentleman from Connecticut does, to any type of amendment to our Shays-Meehan bill. The Shays-Meehan bill does not want a lot of amendments, but I think this is a viable one, and I would congratulate the gentleman from Mississippi for bringing it forward. I think it is something that the Democrats and Republicans can draw on. But let me remind my colleagues again, even with this amendment, we are treating a symptom to a much deeper problem.”