Political Quotes

“No, they were not. In fact, that power has never been used on a reconciliation bill because the following section, 313, gives very specific instructions. It says each provision must be costed out for its impact on both outlays, the spending side, or revenue, should it be a revenue measure. If you are saying ``Well, how do I do that?'' you say ``Well, if we pass this provision, what will it cost as compared to not passing this provision, not having it in the bill?'' That is a comparison to current law. This ability of the Budget chair--and actually the law says the Budget Committee--to correct technical issues or narrow issues on a bipartisan basis basically solves snarly little budgeting questions, like on the dairy program that you mentioned. It was never used on reconciliation, ever; never used on a broad basis, ever; never used to create a lie about what a bill costs in this fashion.”