Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the gentleman's amendment as well. Across-the-board cuts are the coward's way out of making hard decisions. The committee has expertise on the spending policies of the country, and we apply that wisdom, experience, and research on which agencies to fund and which ones we should not. The wise selection of spending priorities is what the appropriations process is all about. An across-the-board cut cuts good programs as well as perhaps some that should be cut. Nevertheless, the judgment of the Congress should be exercised on the expenditures that we make across the government, not a slash-and-burn 2 percent cut or what have you. This amendment would cut everything across the board, and that includes the $3.3 billion in foreign military financing for Israel. Now is not the time to cut $69 million in essential security assistance for our ally, Israel. I urge Members to oppose this amendment.”