James M. Jeffords: “I thought that last sentence might stir up some anxiety. So I wanted to make sure that I reassured Senators that I would…”

“I thought that last sentence might stir up some anxiety. So I wanted to make sure that I reassured Senators that I would withdraw it. But I did want to reemphasize that I intend to meet with the OMB director and with the Governors of Maryland and Virginia, and lay out this plan which will help the District. But it will also help the two surrounding States. So hopefully we can get an agreement to go forward with this, if we could, one, raise the $2 billion to take care of the infrastructure problem; and, two, share 50-50 the ability to create the kind of skilled training that is necessary in this metropolitan area in order to provide skilled workers for the 50,000 jobs that are available in this region which are not being filled at this time. Before I go on, I want to say that the things which I am saying here and recommending are not things that Jim Jeffords decided when he was losing his mind or something, as somebody would think about standing up here and trying to help the District of Columbia. But this book everyone ought to be required to read in the Congress, which is 'The Orphaned Capital,' and it is by Carol O'Clanahan, at the Brookings Institution. This was done on behalf of the city to explain the mess we are in, and possible solutions as to how to get out of the mess.”