Jim Nussle: “Mr. Speaker, the very distinguished gentleman who just spoke suggested that he read with interest our plan, and we all…”

“Mr. Speaker, the very distinguished gentleman who just spoke suggested that he read with interest our plan, and we all appreciate the fact that he did read with interest our plan. At least we have a plan to read. Since September 11, the Democrats in both bodies have yet to present a plan on how to deal with this. We understand that you oppose our position. We understand that you oppose the President's plan. We understand that you oppose the direction that we have taken, and that is fine. You have a right to do so. But I also believe if you are going to complain, you also need to propose; and as of yet, your side has yet to propose an alternative. That is why tonight we are forced to continue to go down the road that we are going, continue to follow the plan that we have put into place in the House, together with the President, and that is why tonight it is important for us to vote down the motion to recommit, which would not follow that plan, and allow this bill to pass so that we do not provide cuts in Medicare and crop insurance, which I know are important to the gentleman as well as to myself and our States, as well as to military health, child enforcement, veterans' education and the victims of September 11. It is, again, not a philosophical discussion, as the gentleman from Wisconsin said. These are real issues that are going to affect people in a real way. We want to prevent the cuts from happening.”