Political Quotes

“what is before the body is a very straightforward effort by the Senator from Arkansas to save the taxpayers some money. Currently, NED has been appropriated $35 million. This authorization involves a $15 million increase above last year's appropriation. In percentage terms, that is an enormous increase. When the Senate deliberates on this issue, I think it must think about several questions. One, is this a program that the Members want to continue at all? I believe the Senator from Arkansas has done his best to accommodate the body by simply bringing funding back down to the current appropriating level. He has not gone further, and he and I both would prefer to eliminate funding entirely. But what he has said, at least, is that this is not a program that ought to be increased above the appropriated level for the next 2 years. I think every Member of the Senate is concerned. NED grants have been controversial. They are not only controversial, but many of them are outright wasteful and undefendable. Even the strongest advocates of NED will grant you that. Frankly, everyone, when we talk about NED, will express concern about the abusive system that has been built up, about the process of noncompetitive grants, about the inability to do proper audits, and about the inability to properly control the funds. So Members must ask: Is this a program we want to significantly increase in spending? I think the amendment of the Senator from Arkansas is only reasonable.…”