Sam Gejdenson: “I would have thought there would have been additional funds in this bill for medical needs of Members on the majority…”

“I would have thought there would have been additional funds in this bill for medical needs of Members on the majority side who had their arms twisted yesterday. I have not been able to find that. They have done a fine job of it, I understand. They marched them in, they had them explain why they voted against it yesterday, and then they brought them back here all united. But let us make sure that the other side understands what they are united on. This is not a freeze. What this is is an increase over last year's spending. They can be for it or against it, but they cannot call it a freeze. You increase spending on Mr. Burton's committee by $4.8 million, you increase with a slush fund of $7.9 million, and you have increased funding for the other committees in this bill before us today of $5.8 million. So what you have here is an increase in funding. You can bring them home to your caucuses and tell them they have got to stay with the party line. You can tell them not to talk to the Democrats and try to work anything out, but you cannot call it a freeze.”