You are looking now at 2010.

The procurement people, are they under your jurisdiction?

Mr. Chairman, would it be appropriate for use to ask for a report in 6 months about how these recommendations have been made so that we can monitor that?

Medicaid is the Pac-Man of any budget?

So the point is that for 2010 you are estimating a flat budget.

And that basically is for the public's understanding, that is the portion of the budget that is being used to amortize the bonds that the city has issued over the years in order to do the capital improvement and other things that you need…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank you for holding this hearing to discuss both the progress and challenges still facing the District of Columbia.

I must say today, Senator Akaka, one of the real joys that I have--and there are not too many with the economy the way it is--is that the books of the city of Cleveland remain auditable.

So that is money that is available in the event that you are not able to meet your revenue estimates to run the city?

We must do more to make the Federal Government the employer of choice.

If you can do that in your shop, you will be able to lead by example.