Judd Gregg: “first, I also wish to compliment the Senator from Georgia, Mr. Chambliss, who brought to us reconciliation instructions…”

“first, I also wish to compliment the Senator from Georgia, Mr. Chambliss, who brought to us reconciliation instructions out of his committee which did not cut food stamps. But I do think it would be a mistake for us to tie Senator Chambliss's or anybody's hands as they move forward in conference. The language which I have concern about in this proposal is the last paragraph. Everything up to the last paragraph is OK, but that last paragraph catches you because he says: Reductions in funding for the food stamp program would constitute cuts in or loss of benefits to currently eligible individuals and families and would not come out of fraud, waste, or abuse. Well, it represents the fact that we cannot save any money from food stamps out of fraud, waste, and abuse. That is just wrong. There are ways to save money in food stamps by addressing fraud, waste, and abuse. There are a lot of ways. Anybody who has been exposed to the program knows that. I believe this instruction would be counterproductive to the flexibility that Senator Chambliss and others would like as they move forward in this conference, and I intend to vote no on it. Mr. President, I believe the yeas and nays have been ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion. The yeas and nays have been ordered. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll. Mr. McCONNELL. The following Senators were necessarily absent. The Senator from Georgia (Mr.…”