Tom Harkin: “When you look at this table, you can see why it is such a poison pill. I am greatly troubled by the vote coming up. I…”

“When you look at this table, you can see why it is such a poison pill. I am greatly troubled by the vote coming up. I have been on this committee and the subcommittee now since 1985. I have been privileged to chair it and then to be the ranking member with Senator Specter as chairman. To my best recollection I have never voted against a Labor-HHS appropriations bill--not once --when Republicans were in charge and then when Democrats were in charge because we have always worked out a reasonable compromise. Well, this will mark the first time that I will have to vote against it. I don't do so with glee. I don't do so as some kind of a pound on the table, saying this is the worst thing in the world. With that poison pill in there, we just can't eat it. I don't think a lot of people can. This is cutting Social Security, veterans' health care, Meals on Wheels, community health centers, afterschool programs, and education. Well, we all want to protect Social Security. Let's do it the right way. I believe we are going to have to sit down with the White House. I want to make sure Senator Specter, Senator Stevens, and I are there at the table talking about this because I believe there is a way out of this.”