Gerald Ford: “I feel that it is incumbent upon me to let my colleagues know what the actual costs are and what the prospects of…”

“I feel that it is incumbent upon me to let my colleagues know what the actual costs are and what the prospects of getting the money might be. Mr. President, under title II of the United States Code, it gives the Committee on Rules and Administration the exclusive authority--I underscore ``exclusive authority''--to approve payments made from the contingency fund of the Senate. No payment may be made from the contingency fund without the approval of the committee. I think that is pretty clear. Inherent in that authority is the responsibility to assure that there are adequate funds--adequate funds--in the contingency fund to cover the various expenses of the Senate. This is just one. We are affecting every committee chairman in the Senate.”