Political Quotes

“I want to commend Mr. LaTourette and Mr. Gibson on their efforts in drafting this amendment. Notwithstanding any technical drafting errors that may affect $30 billion, I think it is important that we have this discussion. The intent of this amendment is to help restore funding to programs that have been zeroed out and to then better balance these cuts. Ordinarily, I would agree with the chairman and Mr. LaTourette that we would not want to engage in across-the-board cuts; but given where we are in this fiscal year 2011 process, I think we should embrace this policy, better balance these cuts in a way that I think is a bit more equitable, use the fiscal year 2012 appropriations process for oversight to make further revisions, then discuss zeroing out or, in a more discriminating manner, deal with those programs that should be cut even more substantially. This amendment will help restore programs like LIHEAP, CSBG, CDBG, which are programs that have been substantially reduced, and others that have been zeroed out. So that is why I believe it is important that we adopt this amendment.”