Political Quotes

“Mr. President, my amendment is pretty straightforward. It eliminates duplicative and wasteful spending. It eliminates $200 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Delta Regional Authority, the Denali Commission, and the Northern Border Regional Commission. These entities have a mission to provide ``strategic investments'' for economic development, broadband deployment, infrastructure improvements, and housing. You name it; there is funding for it. That is laudable, but there are already several Federal, State, and local programs that fund these types of projects. What is worse is that a quick look at some of the grants awarded from these entities show questionable choices: Should $100,000 be awarded to the Lake Placid Ski Club to build ski jumps? Should $125,000 be awarded for a Chinese medicine herb growers consortium? Should $250,000 be awarded to a tribe in Maine to build a maple processing facility--after it was awarded about $100,000 from USDA to launch maple syrup ventures? This is through the Federal Government. I don't believe so. I ask us to support my amendment and stop such duplicative and wasteful spending. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.”