Wayne Allard: “I rise in opposition to the Akaka amendment. The reason I do is I am supporting the Burns amendment primarily because it…”

“I rise in opposition to the Akaka amendment. The reason I do is I am supporting the Burns amendment primarily because it negates the need for the fee proposals in the President's budget and increases funding for research. The President already provides an 11-percent increase from the fiscal year 2006 level, and over the years from 2001 it is a 69-percent increase. There may be some increased needs as we move through the next budget year for veterans. If that happens, then I see no problem with us going ahead, and the Senate historically has always been more willing to put that money in an emergency supplemental. The concern I have with the Akaka amendment is that it increases taxes. There were a number of amendments that were offered--and I assume they will be offered on the floor--in the Budget Committee that raise taxes to take care of this program or that program. The point I would make is that the tax reductions we did a number of years back have served this economy well, and when you allow the economy to grow, then all these programs are going to benefit indirectly because you increase revenues to the Federal Government. I would like to elaborate on that just a little bit before the Senator from Washington makes her statement. If I might just talk a little bit about some of the comments made by the other side, in particular Senator Conrad, as to what happens when we cut those taxes, reduced those taxes known as the President's economic growth package.…”