Chris Sununu: “I will respond in part in supporting my colleagues who objected. We do not object in any way to providing assistance…”

“I will respond in part in supporting my colleagues who objected. We do not object in any way to providing assistance where it is needed. We have already done so, passing $62 billion in new spending, $9 billion in tax relief. That is a very great core relief effort that is providing assistance to those very much in need in the Gulf Coast States and around the country. The question and the point we object to is whether we consider this bill tonight by unanimous consent, an additional $9 billion in spending, several new programs, some of which do not really have anything to do directly with providing emergency assistance for health care or any other services to those people who need it in the Gulf States. That is the question, whether it is imperative we consider this bill now or whether we can move forward in a more deliberative fashion, and whether some of the elements in this bill can be improved. As I said, we provided $62 billion in appropriations, $9 billion in tax relief. So at the very beginning of this discussion we have to ask, with over $40 billion still unexpended and uncommitted, why can't we use a portion of that to cover some of these important needs, some of the health care needs the Senator from Arkansas just described? I think that is one basic reason why I and others object to moving forward tonight on this bill. We ought to be able to find a way to utilize some of the $62 billion we have already passed through the House and the Senate.…”