Political Quotes

“first let me say that I am surprised that the distinguished majority leader is surprised at what the Veterans' Administration and the administration has talked about today of what they need. We have been, for months, talking about the shortfall with the Veterans' Administration, months--not weeks, not days but months. We have had three votes, two in committee and two on the Senate floor, where we, the minority, have begged for more money for our veterans. It seems somewhat unusual to me that approximately 24 hours ago, the Senate unanimously passed a $1.5 billion supplemental for veterans for health care. We just did it. The House Republicans have again shortchanged our veterans by reducing this number by over $500 million. We will insist on a right to amend the bill to bring it to the full $1.5 billion mark. This is the same amendment which the Senate Appropriations Committee, on a bipartisan basis, unanimously authorized the chairman and ranking member to offer to the House supplemental, should it arrive here below the $1.5 billion mark. This is the real world we are in. Now, I also say this: We are depending on the Office of Management and Budget and the Veterans' Administration at this late hour? Would it not be terrible, would it not be awful, if the veterans got a little too much money? What is this, some game that we are playing? We are playing with the lives of people.…”