Ben Cardin actually said...

"I always am concerned about the pressures on the budget that are used, at times, to use well-intended programs just to produce savings rather than to produce better outcomes."

"We have seen in previous efforts to impose delivery system changes that are more cost-effective, give you better value, that the budget can prevent it from being implemented the way it was intended."

"I assure you, my principal objective is getting better value, better outcomes."

"We will only support forces on the ground operating strictly under Iraqi command and control."