Byron Dorgan: “this is a most interesting discussion we are having. I guess two and two equals five here in the Senate. We are told…”

“this is a most interesting discussion we are having. I guess two and two equals five here in the Senate. We are told repeatedly that this Senate and Congress should increase defense spending, and it does; increase spending on homeland security, and it does. And then cut other domestic discretionary spending. But now we are told, we don't really cut other domestic discretionary spending. The President apparently wants to increase defense spending, increase homeland security spending, increase other spending, and then have tax cuts, as if somehow that all adds up. I don't know where you get that kind of schooling. Does two and two equal five? I don't think so. Either there are cuts in domestic discretionary spending or there are no cuts. We all know the truth. I will bring charts down here and talk about these areas of the Government where they will be spending less this year than they did last year. With respect to homeland security, I wonder if my colleagues really make the case that the President has not in any way ignored the needs of homeland security when in fact we appropriated $2.5 billion for homeland security that the President would not spend, in spite of the fact that, for example, with port security, that is the security of America's seaports, we have 5.7 million containers coming in every year to the seaports, and 100,000 of them are inspected and 5.6 million are not.”