Cord Byrd: “there may be men and women dying right now in the Arabian desert. Here we are talking about a budget resolution which is…”

“there may be men and women dying right now in the Arabian desert. Here we are talking about a budget resolution which is required by law to be passed by April 15. The administration has not added one penny in this budget for the war. They have not added anything in this budget for the war. If we were debating a war budget today, it might be different. But we are not debating a war budget. There is no money in this budget by the administration for the war. Yet we are fighting a war. Why the hurry, when the deadline is April 15? Why the hurry? We have asked the administration, I have asked the administration and representatives of the administration what is the cost of the war. How much is it going to cost. What is the cost of this war. The Secretary of Defense has answered it is not knowable. Here we are, the elected representatives of the people who want to know something about the cost of the war. The administration has said: It is not knowable. The administration has said, in essence, wait until you see the supplemental. We will send you the supplemental. The answer to our questions have been rather contemptuous, in saying: Well, we don't know the cost. We will let you know when we send up the bill. Why don't we wait and see what the supplemental is going to ask for? Why don't we wait and see what the administration asks for in the supplemental before we proceed with the budget? I cannot understand the hurry.”