Kent Conrad: “we have heard a lot from the other side about spending running away. If we examine the budget before us, all of the…”

“we have heard a lot from the other side about spending running away. If we examine the budget before us, all of the increase is in two areas: defense and homeland security. Both sides of the aisle have supported those increases. The President proposed major increases in defense spending after the attack on this country. Those of us on our side of the aisle immediately agreed. The President proposed major increases in homeland security. Those on our side of the aisle immediately agreed. There are big increases in spending, but every part of that increase is in those two areas of defense and homeland security. That is where the big increases are occurring, and I think it is understandable why we have big increases in defense proposed by the President and agreed to by our side of the aisle. I think it is very easily understood why we have a big increase in homeland security proposed by the President and agreed to by our side of the aisle.”