Marty Walsh: “This debate really is disintegrating, and it is really unfortunate. To wave the bloody shirt of ethnicity on a debate on…”

“This debate really is disintegrating, and it is really unfortunate. To wave the bloody shirt of ethnicity on a debate on the rule really demeans all of us. It really does. I am chairman of the subcommittee. The gentleman from New York [Mr. Serrano], the ranking member, is Hispanic. I do not think there is a Member in this body who I respect more than that gentleman. The points that were made I do not think reflect well on this body. They certainly do not reflect well on this rule. To get back to the specifics of the request, $150,000 out of the legislative branch to give the Immigration Naturalization Service. They did not ask for this money. It takes money out of the operations of the legislative branch, which, as we all know, we have reduced 3 years in a row. This amendment does not have anything to do with the legislative branch. It is an opportunity for the minority to vent. They are frustrated. We were frustrated when we were in the minority, too. It goes with the turf. But we have tried to be fair. This rule allows for amendments for Democrats and Republicans, but they have got to be germane to the bill. They should be fair. I think we have been fair. Fairness, obviously, is in the eyes of the beholder. But we really have done our best to give everybody their opportunity on this bill. And this idea of ethnicity really has absolutely nothing to do with this bill.”