Karen Thurman: “I voted ``yes.'' And I am certainly glad the gentleman did point that out because, yes, I did. And then, of course, we…”

“I voted ``yes.'' And I am certainly glad the gentleman did point that out because, yes, I did. And then, of course, we revoted that vote, with every Democrat and Republican on this floor except for three voting to protect Medicare and Social Security. And if the gentleman remembers, that was $3 billion. Today they want to spend $50 billion. So today we are going to spend $50 billion, and we are not going to be given the same opportunity to offer this amendment again. The amendment basically says, and I will read it directly from the Congressional Record. By the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg): ``Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 5 minutes. ``The American people have spoken. They agree that conservation funding is important. They do not agree that we should raid the Social Security Trust Fund. They want 100 percent of the surplus set aside. They also want to know that Medicare is funded and solvent. They want to know that it is there for their health care as seniors. And they want to know that the public debt will be paid off by the deadline of 2013.'' Why can we not have this amendment? I do not understand that. I think we should vote against this rule and allow the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) to have his day.”