On the recordJanuary 28, 2010
let's make it clear. This is not the plan the President presented last evening. The President allows growth in Homeland Security. This amendment does not. The President's proposal doesn't put a cap on emergency spending. Yes, we have decided certain things are an emergency. Yet it doesn't mean that all of us will agree. He doesn't put a cap on that. The President's plan will request more than $700 billion for Defense. This amendment allocates $614 billion. To exceed this amount, we need 60 votes. Does the Senate want to make the Defense budget subject to 60 votes? As chairman of the committee, I agree that everyone should tighten their belts. The problem with this amendment is that all the tightening will be done on a small portion of the budget, while the revenues and mandatory spending will still be unchecked. This is a flawed amendment. It is not the President's plan. I urge my colleagues to vote no. I yield the floor.
