William C. Baker: “I have never heard so much smoke and mirrors, let alone bubbles on this debate. First of all, this was in the bill. The…”

“I have never heard so much smoke and mirrors, let alone bubbles on this debate. First of all, this was in the bill. The bill had a hearing. The gentleman from Kentucky was there. But he did not bring this amendment up, nor did he discuss this project. So do not say this is some secret earmark that some scientist dreamed up to pork it up. And he was very kind in his remarks to exclude pork in this. But there is no reason to go after a basic science program, $1 million, yet, when it has had a hearing and it went through the process and nobody said 'bubble' during that hearing. So now we use the word 'earmark.' Well, this is an earmark. If this is such a tremendous earmark, why are not the lobbyists here saying, we have to have this; this is for fossil fuel? Or we have to have this; this is for wind? This is basic research and we ought to be doing more of it and not less. This is also to improve and give us an alternative to the various fusion programs that everybody is taking pot shots at here on the floor.”