Political Quotes

“What I described was the line items of the $21 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan reconstruction. I went through the hospitals, the education, infrastructure, the water projects. I did not mention that today in the newspaper there is an additional $8 billion that was just recently offered for Turkey. I do not have anything against offering assistance to Turkey. They are a good American ally, but $8 billion so they would participate. What I find interesting is we spend about $11 billion a year on Pell grants. So Turkey in 1 year will get nearly what we spend for one of the largest Federal assistance programs for kids to go to college here in the United States. That is what we are going to offer Turkey. So just to put this in perspective, we have $21 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan reconstruction, the lion's share going to Iraq. That does not count what we are spending now in Turkey that was just approved yesterday. I do not know, but the last time I checked, we fought tooth and nail to get Medicaid reimbursement here at home for our hospitals for the health care of our citizens, and I know our colleagues from Ohio and Hawaii, and I do not want to take more time than is allocated here for me. But I want to add that piece for Turkey to that number. As we talk about $21 billion, there is another $8 billion just offered for Turkey. Again, there are needs at home.”