Joel Hefley: “the Republican rescission package that we have been considering over the last couple of days includes emergency funding…”

“the Republican rescission package that we have been considering over the last couple of days includes emergency funding for earthquake disaster relief. To pay for this relief, the bill includes $17.2 billion in rescissions across the Federal Government. In light of the Democratic opposition to the bill, go with me for a moment to those thrilling days of yesteryear about 2 years ago. Bill Clinton was the newly elected President. He asked Congress to pass another emergency funding package. This time, however, the package was bigger. It was $16 billion in new spending. There were no offsets. The $16 billion went directly to the deficit. What national emergency was Bill Clinton confronting? He said we needed a national fish atlas, and to assess electronic fish habitat technology, and study the sickle fish chub populations. Mr. Speaker, Bill Clinton began his Federal diet by offering Uncle Sam $16 billion in pork. Today the new Republican majority is making real decisions and real cuts.”