Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I won't take the full 5 minutes, but I come down a little bit different than the gentleman from California on this, because I know from personal relations with many people in my district that the weatherization program has been a very good program, especially for those who cannot afford to fix up their own place. Different from Mississippi where he has the heat, we have got the cold. When I look at this amendment, the areas that the gentleman from Mississippi is taking the money from is much needed. The weatherization program is much needed money. I see that we are forced into a choice that many of us would not like to have to make, solely because of the budget that has been driven in order to reduce funds, in order to give money to the wealthy. That is all it amounts to. These cuts are not necessary if we just forget the tax bill. Let us just forget the tax bill, not have one. Then we can have the weatherization, can still reduce the deficits. The Blue Dog budget, the coalition budget provides it, and we can have the energy research programs that we need. But because you all want to have the big tax cut, we cannot do it. So we have to make a choice between making the poor hot in the summertime in the South where they cannot afford air conditioners, they cannot afford any fans, or in the North, where I am from, they can freeze in the winter.”