Nita Lowey: “I rise in grudging support of this budget deal. This is not a great bill. It is certainly not the bill I would have…”

“I rise in grudging support of this budget deal. This is not a great bill. It is certainly not the bill I would have written. But it is the best bill that Congress can pass this year. We are at the end of a very long process that began over a year ago. From the very beginning it was clear that the Republican majority was determined to cut funding for vital education and environmental programs. The bills that passed this house last year cut funds to our local schools by 16 percent, eliminated the Summer Jobs Program, and slashed the EPA by a third. Those bills would have reduced funding to New York City by Almost $600 million--or 18 percent. And when Bill Clinton refused to accept these draconian cuts Newt Gingrich deliberately shut the Government down--not once, but twice--in order to get his way. Thankfully, the President stood his ground and forced the Republicans to compromise. Cuts, confrontation and shut down have failed. The President remained firm and won. Let us pass this bill.”