Arlen Specter: “I am concerned about the total cost of the bill in light of the position of President Bush's administration where there…”

“I am concerned about the total cost of the bill in light of the position of President Bush's administration where there have been concerns raised about the total cost because we are facing such a large deficit this year. I do believe that infrastructure--highway construction, mass transit, and bridge repairs--is indispensable for economic growth and economic development, but in the very complex Federal budget all of these matters have to be prioritized. We are looking at a budget next year of $2.4 trillion, where there is a projected increase of close to 10 percent--9.7 percent--for homeland defense, 7 percent for the Department of Defense, and less than 1 percent for discretionary spending.”