Deborah Koff Ross: “Let me tell you, as a Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I can tell you that these are the facts. The…”

“Let me tell you, as a Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I can tell you that these are the facts. The Republican leadership talks a lot about alternative and renewable fuels. Biomass refineries, grants to create biomass refineries for all of America for the next 365 days totals $100 million. We will send nearly three times that much money to Iraq in the next 24 hours. It is about priorities. This President has announced already that if this supplemental appropriations bill includes funding for disaster payments for our farm families here in America who have suffered through one of the worst droughts in this Nation's history that he will veto it, the first veto of this administration after 6 years. Again, it is about America's priorities, and America's priorities are found all over this Republican budget for fiscal year 2007. A budget that should reflect the priorities and values of our Nation, a budget that may very well be debated and voted on on the floor of this chamber sometime this week. Well, Mr. Speaker, the Republican majority has had a difficult time bringing a proposal to the floor for a vote. This is because they cannot find consensus within their own party about the choices made to cut programs that are essential to the most vulnerable in our Nation, while increasing record deficits by providing tax cuts to those making over $400,000 a year.…”