Political Quotes

“I always like being lectured on how I don't understand the debt and deficit. As one of, I think, 38 Members of this House to vote for Cooper- LaTourette, I understand those concerns, but any attempts to be serious about our debt and deficit must include a big, balanced, and bipartisan effort to address those matters, not going after one of the 12 smaller spending bills and saying, See. There, we did it. It would have to include appropriate revenues. It would have to include addressing all elements of this government, including the sacred cow of the defense budget. If you are going to address our Nation's debt and deficit, you have to look at the government as a whole. This is a similar measure to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin, only it is more destructive to the cuts it proposes to make across the board. I will not repeat the same talking points that I previously stated regarding the harm that such indiscriminate cuts would have on American families, businesses, and communities. I would just note this amendment proposes to cut more than $2 billion from this bill. This reduction would bring the bill below the funding level provided in fiscal year 2012 under a Republican-controlled Congress. Mr. Chair, this amendment is harmful. I urge my colleagues to oppose it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.”