Jerry Lewis

The American people know that, once again, Congress is putting partisan political considerations ahead of the needs of the American people. In my view, the quickest way to end this political nonsense is to vote `no' on this bill so that we…

This program will cost about $30 billion if it follows that path. Yet despite pledges in this House to adhere to the letter and spirit of PAYGO, this bill does neither. Our colleagues' argument is that today's economic conditions…

Mr. Speaker, one of the delights of this process, preparing for this bill, has been to go back through the process of the past and look at some of the protestations and expressions of concern by my colleague, now the chairman of the full…

I can't help but wonder if maybe there is some lack of commitment to regular order that I had never perceived before. For example, my colleague from San Diego, the chairman of the VA Subcommittee, if he had been given an opportunity, could…

Mr. Speaker, it is kind of hard to believe that Christmas is less than 2 weeks away and that David Obey provides me with material for my own presentation one more time. While most Americans are Christmas shopping and decorating their…

I wanted to mention it is very interesting to see my colleague, the chairman, to use statistics and data for his own purposes. We have, over the last 12 years, had nine omnibus appropriations bills, and where those bills were put together…

What I am suggesting, Mr. Obey, is that there are, in this place even, there are people who sometimes use data and statistics for their purposes versus other purposes. This is our committee and I would hope we would run it in regular order.

But in the meantime, we are talking about regular order, trying to change the appropriations process so it makes sense, not destroy our committee. I would suggest we are on a pathway to destroy this committee.

I just might mention that during the time that the chairman and I have worked together in the Appropriations Committee, we have talked many a time about process where we both happen to think it is very important. But the fact is that all…

It is a fabulous program, using the money very well, and I urge a ``no'' vote on the gentleman's amendment.

I very much appreciate your taking the time to make those expressions. They've done a fabulous job on this bill, and it's an illustration of what can happen when we work so well together.

I find this conversation to be very interesting, and I noted that there is a tendency not to accept authorizing language in this instance because of a very specific problem, and because the authorizing committee has not acted. I, frankly…

Well, just out of curiosity, Mr. Speaker, or Mr. Obey, I wonder if there are any earmarks in this massive package that went unidentified in the true spirit of that earmark disclosure rule.

It's my understanding that by considering the supplemental in this way, under this rather unorthodox way, the majority's new rule that's related to earmarks does not apply to the two amendments we're considering today.

Mr. Speaker, the process we have just gone through where we had a vote whereby a significant majority voted to overrule the ruling of the Chair would suggest to me it is very important at the highest level our leadership come together from…

I must say that it is important for me that the body know that I am committed to reducing the rate of growth of spending. $463.5 billion is a pretty significant rate of growth. But in the meantime, as we go about reducing spending growth…

First, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, I must mention that this bill is full of new programs, policy directives, performance directives, all kinds of authorizing suggestions, without any indication as to where the money might…

The reason I asked you to yield, Mr. Chairman, is that it strikes me that the entire membership should know that already Mr. Murtha and you together have lost out to the legislative branch subcommittee. It is a very unusual thing. I think…

Mr. Obey and I have both understood for years that if you wander through the Rayburn Building and do not get lost, you have been here too long. With that, I think you have a very good proposal.

I do want the gentleman to know that I have great respect for the work that you and your staff have been about, but also the work that Mr. Edwards and others on the other side of the aisle have been about regarding this very important…

And so really what we would appear to have before us are Members unilaterally identifying paragraphs that they are not particularly pleased with that involve moneys, maybe at a level, say, of $375 million, that specifically affect our…

Let me say to you, you have done a fabulous job with this bill. It is a very difficult bill. People oftentimes do not understand the difficulties of putting together a bill like this. To exercise themselves in a way that undermines our…

One of his major farms is in my district, and all the farmers around him in California are supporting his position.

The gentleman involved is a constituent of mine. I can take you to his farm anytime you like, in California.