Victor Fazio: “it is with reluctance that I offer this amendment today, not because the $2.5 billion in cuts I am offering are not…”

“it is with reluctance that I offer this amendment today, not because the $2.5 billion in cuts I am offering are not important--I support them--but because I think it is inappropriate to be debating deficits at a time of national emergency. it's not the time to debate the deficit People are hurting in Los Angeles as a result of the Northridge earthquake: 57 people died; 6,500 were injured; 25,000 homes have been destroyed or severely damaged, another 29,000 homes received minor damage; 100 public schools were severely damaged along with many other important public facilities, including miles of freeways and roads. Nearly 230,000 people have applied for disaster assistance. And, the Los Angeles area is still suffering from major aftershocks which have caused further damage. In the face of this crisis, try telling the people of Los Angeles that you want to debate the deficit today. Tell it to the thousands of families--mothers, fathers, children, grandparents--who lost one of the most basic necessities of life--a roof over their heads. Go to the tent parks in Los Angeles and tell them you want to debate the deficit today. Go to the unemployment offices and tell it to the additional 10,000 workers who filed for unemployment in Los Angeles last week. Go to the school yards and tell the children who lost their homes and classrooms and whose parents are standing in food lines. Tell them you want to debate the deficit today.”