Political Quotes

“I rise in reluctant favor of this bill, which makes emergency appropriations for fiscal year 2000. Notwithstanding my support for the $2 billion package for the costs of the U.S. peacekeepers in Kosovo or the paltry, yet sorely needed $854 million for the Pentagon's embattled health-insurance system, I have serious concerns over the Colombia supplemental package. The $1.7 billion package of counter-narcotics and development assistance for the Andean region, principally Colombia may be spending too much money in the wrong places. Let's briefly list what this package includes: Assistance for Colombian Army Counter-narcotics Battalions [``Push into Southern Colombia'' program]. This includes 33 Huey helicopters and 28 UH-60 (Blackhawk) helicopters, along with training, operations and maintenance and related equipment. Assistance for Colombian National Police--2 UH-60 helicopters; a spray aircraft; base construction; upgrade of existing aircraft; and provision of intelligence. Narcotic interdiction assistance for Colombia and neighbors in the region. Some economic development including crop substitution, employment, and resettlement. A modicum of human rights protection, democratic governance, judicial reform and the peace process.”