perhaps the chairman of the subcommittee was not on the floor when I indicated to him that this was something that came up when we got to maps that more precisely allowed us to more fully understand where the area was. I wrote a letter to the author of the bill on May 2 and did not get a response. The first paragraph says, ``It is my understanding that the Natural Resources Committee will be marking up your California desert legislation, H.R. 518, on May 4, 1994. I would like to take this opportunity to request that you consider offering an amendment to this bill on this subject that is brought before the committee.'' Mr. Chairman, I then go into an extensive explanation of why the amendment is needed. I got no response on that letter. I tried to follow the process. I introduced the amendment on May 16. I do not believe the gentleman was here when I reiterated that on May 25, there was a proposal which was unacceptable. On May 26, we countered with what we thought we wanted to do. On June 2, there was a reoffer which was unacceptable. On June 9 there was another counter. Later on June 9 there was a counter back, and today we have had two exchanges along the way over less than 1 square mile to try to save the taxpayers a couple of million dollars. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman wants to enlarge discussion to the more than 7 million acres that are in the bill itself, this can be magnified just as this map was to discover all kinds of problems like this.…
Editor's note · Context
Discussing the amendment process for California desert legislation during a House floor debate.
Share
More from William M. Thomas
this is both a substantive discussion and perhaps an illustrative and graphic one of the process that we are operating under. The substance is there is an exciting new technology by which we will be able to recharge satellites' batteries…
And I would ask the gentleman: Today, rather than the Federal Government, States and the private sector, driven by the increased costs of health care, are the engines of change and health care reform. In our State, as you know, California…
I think the usual argument is that, after all, it is a continuation of our current system. I think, as the President said, "That is where most people get their health care now." However, the points the gentlewoman has just made, I think…
He did not make it here. I was accommodated. I used my time, and then the chairman goes ahead, and this is typical of the way in which you turn things. The chairman goes ahead and then, in inference, accuses me of sandbagging the…





