Arlen Specter: “The essential point on the amendment of the Senator from California is to add $200 million to afterschool programs. I…”

“The essential point on the amendment of the Senator from California is to add $200 million to afterschool programs. I believe afterschool programs are very valuable, and I have supported afterschool programs in the past. In fact, in collaboration with Senator Harkin, we included $200 million in addition to the $200 million now allocated for afterschool programs. This is an enormous increase on a program that just 3 years ago was at $1 million, then increased to $40 million, then to $200 million, and we have doubled it this year to $400 million. It is an integral part of the school violence prevention initiative. In crafting this bill, which comes in at $91.7 billion, Senator Harkin and I have made an assessment of priorities among some 300 programs. And while we would like to have more money for afterschool programs--we would like to have more money for many programs--it simply is not possible to do it. In crafting this bill, which will be passed by the Senate, to get at least 51 votes, there is very considerable concern on my side of the aisle about a bill with $91.7 billion. Then we have to go to conference. Then we have to find a bill which the President will sign. The metaphor is, it is like running between the raindrops in a hurricane. So it is with reluctance I must oppose the Boxer amendment; it is not realistic to do it.”