Darlene Hooley: “watching this debate I couldn't help but ask myself a question. Where are the 302B allocations? For those watching at…”

“watching this debate I couldn't help but ask myself a question. Where are the 302B allocations? For those watching at home, 302B allocations set the spending levels that the 13 Appropriations Committees must work with to move forward the federal--nonemergency--spending. The 302B allocations are nowhere to be found. The federal budget is so tight that the Majority Budget Committee Members can't figure out how they are going to fund the government next year without busting the spending caps. The Majority is having a heck of a time figuring out how to increase military spending without cutting important social initiatives or busting the budget caps. Then, along comes the Kosovo Emergency Spending bill--which Congress can now use to slide billions of dollars under the budget caps into military spending with little complaint from the Administration. Well, I protest, Mr. Chairman. The other body has done the right thing with the Kosovo Emergency Spending bill. I support the Obey substitute because it, as well as the bill moving through the other chamber, gets the job done in Kosovo, but is not a giveaway to the special interests here in Washington. This bill is not an excuse to push through billions of dollars of spending and take the pressure off the federal spending caps. That should be done in front of the American public in the normal Appropriations process. Support the Obey substitute.”