Rob Andrews: “Mr. Speaker, here is what this debate is about: This weekend Members of both parties are going to go home and have a…”

“Mr. Speaker, here is what this debate is about: This weekend Members of both parties are going to go home and have a town meeting, and someone is going to ask them if they are in favor of cutting spending or not. Most of us are going to say yes, we are in favor of cutting spending, and then someone in the audience is going to raise their hand and say, ``Congressman, why did you vote to cut the aid that I get to pay my utility bill, my heating bill, when you could have voted instead to cut money from the savings and loan bailout or from the bureaucracy in the Agriculture Department or from the Export-Import Bank?'' If you vote for this rule, Mr. Speaker, if Members vote for this rule, here is the honest answer to that question: ``I had a chance to vote for that kind of amendment, but I refused it. I had a chance to defeat this rule and let us bring to the floor amendments that would let us cut other areas that benefit corporate America and do not hurt seniors and kids and middle-income families, but I did not take that opportunity.'' If this rule passes, this will be the day that the Contract With America was breached for the first time.”