"We reacted in this emergency with an unprecedented spending program and a pressure to spend it quickly."
"This is really too critical, too big, and as I said at the beginning, it is too big for us to let it fail."
"I think it would be a perfect focus at the outset to take some of the contracts issued pursuant to the stimulus."
"They know they need it. But they are worried about whether we are going to spend it effectively."
"We share the burden of living up to the expectations of the American people and delivering the transparency and accountability and performance that we promised."
"I presume, if I can draw you out on that, that would have meant significant layoffs of teachers and other school personnel."
"I do want to say how pleased I am that the Acting Comptroller General, Mr. Dodaro, is today going to release before this Committee his first bi-monthly report on State and local spending under the Sti..."
"So you would say your minimal goal for the use of the Medicaid reimbursement or support that is part of this bill, is that there be no cutbacks in services available to anyone in the State eligible fo..."
"I always feel the best thing government can do is to try to help people get and hold good jobs to provide for themselves."
"I appreciate what you are both doing, first to spend the money that we have appropriated."
"Any significant fraud or waste in this program is going to have a devastating blow on public opinion and trust in government."