Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I thank the chairman for that time. One of the first amendments we will consider is a 5-percent across- the-board cut. There is some surface appeal to this because it is almost like taking money and not leaving any fingerprints because you do not have to pick the different agencies that are going to be reduced in spending. You just say generically cut 5 percent and call us back when it is all over. It sounds like an easy assignment, but it overlooks the obvious. Senator Inouye, as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, is already preparing for next year's spending by reducing the spending level suggested by the President of the United States--if I am not mistaken, some $16 billion below President Obama's budget request. So the Senator, as chairman of this important committee, is acting in good faith to bring down spending. It is my understanding this continuing resolution, at least for the next few months, cuts even more deeply in terms of the money that will be allowed. So if there is some argument being made on the Senate floor that we are not sensitive to the deficit needs of America and we have not already accepted responsibility to cut spending, they are ignoring Senator Inouye's leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the fact that this bipartisan compromise cuts even more deeply. Now comes the Senator from South Dakota who says: Well, let's cut some more. Let's cut 5 percent across the board.…”