Norman D. Dicks: “I want to explain to the Members here that we are going to have something happen that, in my 24 years here, is…”

“I want to explain to the Members here that we are going to have something happen that, in my 24 years here, is unprecedented. We have had a good working comity with the other side. I have throughout my career tried to work effectively with the Republican side on every piece of legislation that I have ever been involved with. But just a few hours ago, we won an amendment. The gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) won an amendment to take $22 million out of the clean coal deferral account. She wants to then have an amendment to add this $15 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, $5 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities, and $2 million for the Institute of Museums and Library Services. I am told, and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Nethercutt) has confirmed, that he is going to offer an amendment to take the $22 million and give it to the Indian Health Service. I just wish that we were not $507 million below the President's budget request. I think this is very unfair. We have offered offsets on all of our amendments here today. This amendment that he is offering is not offset. We have tried to play the game by the rules. But I really regret that we are going down this road, and it is going to make it hard to cooperate on this bill.”