Haley Stevens: “I am constrained to point out to the Senate that part of the Budget Act gives us the power, in the Appropriations…”

“I am constrained to point out to the Senate that part of the Budget Act gives us the power, in the Appropriations Committee, to make allocations to specific portions of the budget. We have 13 separate bills. The allocation to the Defense Department under the Defense appropriations bill for 2001 I made when I was chairman--and Senator Byrd from West Virginia has modified that slightly, but it is still a limitation--it is a limitation that prevents us from transferring money from one bill to another without the consent of the Senate. The amendment of the Senator from Arizona would increase the amount allocated to the Department of Defense for 2001 in excess of the current budget allocation that both Senator Byrd as chairman, and I, when I was chairman, submitted to the Senate. The amendment by the Senator from Arizona has the unfortunate consequence of exceeding our allocation. I make a point of order against the McCain amendment under section 302(f) of the Budget Act.”