Political Quotes

“I thank the Chair for the responses to those inquiries. The fact that this bill violates the Budget Act in so many different ways helps to demonstrate the stark fact that there could be serious consequences from taking up this bill as we have, outside of the normal legislative cycle. Now, Mr. President, I share the desire of, I hope, all of our colleagues to do what we can to provide fairer compensation to our men and women in uniform, and to address the serious recruiting and retention problems which are faced by the services. However, if the House acts on this measure and it is brought back to the Senate floor following a conference without paying for the benefits in this bill, many of the same points of order under the Budget Act would still apply. And so, if the Budget Committee members at that point fail to raise points of order which would be available to such a conference report if it comes back to the floor without being paid for, I would reserve the right at that time to raise those points of order. I think it is very important that before this bill comes back to either House in the form of a conference report, that any benefits in this bill be paid for. No matter how much we want to enact these important provisions into law, at some point we are going to have to pay for them. That time needs to come before final passage of any conference report on this bill.”