Cliff Stearns: “I rise in support of the Pence amendment. Despite the arguments that we have heard against the use of these loans, we…”

“I rise in support of the Pence amendment. Despite the arguments that we have heard against the use of these loans, we need to reinforce the point that the taxpayers of this country should not be required to foot the entire bill for Iraq reconstruction indefinitely. So maybe not this time, but maybe next. I think many of my colleagues know I have an amendment also; it is a sense of the Congress that, once Iraq is on their feet again, that they will help pay back some of these loans. We do not want to tie the hands of the administration or the Iraqi Government, but we want to allow some type of flexibility. The people of Iraq should not be burdened, of course, with the lavish spending of the Saddam Hussein regime which borrowed heavily to oppress his people and to enrich its own leaders. I also believe that it is unfair to compare the proposed U.S. loan idea in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to the debts amassed under Saddam Hussein and his evil regime. We and the American taxpayers want to rebuild hospitals, schools, and prisons.”