Jerry Lewis: “I would speak just for a moment by way of saying that I think in many ways we have demonstrated if we are not careful…”

“I would speak just for a moment by way of saying that I think in many ways we have demonstrated if we are not careful with our rhetoric, we can undermine the opportunity we have for bipartisan consideration of very important work in the House. One of the most positive experiences I have had as a member of the Appropriations Committee has been to sit in that subcommittee that deals with Labor-HHS. I have been very, very impressed with the amount of nonpartisan, bipartisan support for fundamental research, for example. It is when we get this partisan confrontation on the floor that polarizes us that we tend to become confused about the real work that is positively done within our subcommittees. I must say I would hope that we can do all that we possibly can to try to bring both sides together relative to those research items that I feel have such high priority. Beyond that, I'm going to be later raising a question by way of a motion to instruct conferees that would suggest that the Labor-HHS bill ought to be dealt with by itself.”