Cord Byrd: “If the world wants to see a committee that really operates in a bipartisan way, take a look at the Senate Appropriations…”

“If the world wants to see a committee that really operates in a bipartisan way, take a look at the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Republican former chairman, Mr. Stevens, and I and all of the members on that committee, Democrats and Republicans, work together. There is no bickering about politics in that committee. Again, we have reported these 13 appropriations bills, and they have been just hanging out there. We can't get any movement. We can't get any work done. Why? Why all this holdup? Why doesn't the White House, instead of pointing the finger at the Senate and saying, they are guilty of wasteful spending, or pointing to the Congress and saying, pass my homeland security bill, why doesn't the White House meet its responsibilities to the American people and provide homeland security by signing those appropriations bills? No, the President apparently was advised by persons who seem to prefer to play politics over serving the American people by moving these appropriations bills and enhancing the homeland security of all Americans.”