James A. Leach: “First, let me respond to the gentleman. We have worked forthrightly to come up with the maximum approach we believe that…”

“First, let me respond to the gentleman. We have worked forthrightly to come up with the maximum approach we believe that could receive the majority's support in this body. Second, I do believe very firmly that there are few areas of Federal programming that have had more glaring mistakes in them than a number of our public housing projects. And I believe that without reform, more money is money down the proverbial difficult hole. All I can say is that from the majority's perspective, we have worked with the administration to come up with a credible number, with credible reform, and as we come to the floor, each amendment calls either for a return to the status quo or for money outside the budget constraints that have been worked out between the executive branch and Congress. It is in that context that I have a difficult time looking at some of these amendments.”