Norman D. Dicks: “It really pains me to not be able to help my friend from Ohio, who is a valued member of the Appropriations Committee…”

“It really pains me to not be able to help my friend from Ohio, who is a valued member of the Appropriations Committee, who was an outstanding member of the Interior Subcommittee when I was chairman, and who I enjoy working with very much. The LaTourette amendment would cut from the FY10 levels: 31 percent from Agriculture; 20 percent from CJS; 11 percent from Energy and Water; 19 percent from Financial Services; 5 percent from Homeland Security; 19 percent from Interior; 17 percent from Labor-HHS; 6 percent from the Legislative Branch; 12 percent from State, Foreign Operations; and 30 percent from Transportation. Unfortunately, in addition, the amendment fails to incorporate for Afghanistan and Iraq operations provided by section 101(8) of the first continuing resolution. Omitting this provision effectively cuts Department of Defense contingency funding by nearly $30 billion. As a result, the amendment vastly underfunds DOD requirements for fiscal year 2011. It would preclude effective conduct of operations and put deployed troops at risk. The amendment would also harm job growth.”