On the recordMarch 9, 2011
the amendment I introduced on Friday cuts $51 billion from the discretionary spending request submitted by the President for fiscal year 2011. If this amendment were agreed to as written, it would mean we would appropriate $51 billion less than the President felt was necessary for the government to carry out its duties. I do not agree with every item this President or any President requests in their budget. But I also know the President's budget request did not contain $51 billion in frivolous or wasteful spending. The cuts necessary to reach the $51-billion level required difficult choices. This amendment makes real cuts to real programs. Tens of thousands of Americans will feel the direct impact of the proposed cuts. But the cuts included in this amendment are based on hearings, testimony, and a thorough analysis of the current needs of every agency and department the committee funds. By contrast, the Republicans in the House have thrown together a proposal based not on budgets, not on hearings, not on the demonstrated needs of agencies and departments but rather based on the campaign promise to reduce spending by $100 billion. H.R. 1 shows clearly what happens when you run a bill based not on analysis but on campaign speeches.
