Rob Andrews: “Mr. Speaker, we are having an argument that is worth having. The argument is predicated on this, as the gentlewoman from…”

“Mr. Speaker, we are having an argument that is worth having. The argument is predicated on this, as the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) just said. In the springtime, the majority passed a budget that was predicated on the proposition that we should pass sweeping tax cuts in this year's budget. We disagree with that. That is an argument worth having. We believe that the principal fiscal focus of this country should be on reducing the national debt. Beyond that, we are having another argument that is worth having about whether we should invest in education more or less, yes or no. We believe, and I think a majority of this House believes, Mr. Speaker, that investment in education should happen. The reason we are having this argument, the reason we have overshot our deadline by 2 weeks, is that we will stand on principle. We believe that assistance for school districts around this country in modernizing their schools and building new ones is worth fighting for. We believe that putting a qualified teacher in every classroom in America, so that particularly in the primary grades children get more one-on-one attention, is worth staying and fighting for. And we believe that programs like after-school programs, drug and alcohol education, are worth funding to their highest and most practical level. It is an argument worth having.”