Bob Kerrey: “All I am trying to do in making this proposal is make a suggestion to this task force that in the process of considering…”

“All I am trying to do in making this proposal is make a suggestion to this task force that in the process of considering the recommendation, one of the things we consider is, rather than getting in this debate, should we have an offset, which I think is not right--I do not think we should in the case of a disaster in California say that we are going to make somebody else suffer as a consequence of the suffering that is going on out there. I am merely trying to make the point, and I will be glad to set it aside for the purpose of informing and allowing the chairman of the Finance Committee to come to the floor. Mr. President, I should like to get back and discuss again precisely what it is this proposal does. I saw earlier the distinguished Senator from Colorado come to the floor, and there will be others who want to come and speak in favor. Again, it is not my desire nor my intent to slow down this dire emergency supplemental, a supplemental that I believe is needed and a supplemental that I intend to vote for, as I did last year with the disaster programs of the Midwest.”