Byron Dorgan: “In fact, the request before the Senate Appropriations Committee this afternoon for the war in Iraq is two requests: $145…”

“In fact, the request before the Senate Appropriations Committee this afternoon for the war in Iraq is two requests: $145 billion that now exists for this year, and we expect another $50 billion on top of it. That is nearly $200 billion in one single year, totaling about three-quarters of a trillion dollars, over time none of it paid for. This program to provide health insurance to children is $7 billion a year fully paid for. What bothers me about this issue is this clearly is an issue of trying to take care of things here at home. What is more important than taking care of a young child who is sick? It is interesting to me, we voted a while back about making English the national language. It is a reasonable request. If you want to become an American citizen, you ought to aspire to learn the language, English. Yet I come to the floor and I hear a foreign language. I don't understand what they are talking about: 'socialized medicine,' 'Cuban-style, government-run health care.' It seems to me they ought to speak English. I get so tired of people using these terms, such as 'socialized medicine.' Yes, there is a government aspect to this issue. But as my colleague said, much of this is the private sector as well implementing it. I am so tired of people saying the Government can't do a thing. How about those firefighters climbing the World Trade Center and giving their lives as those buildings came down? You know what, they were on the public payroll, were they not?”