Political Quotes

“let me remind my colleagues and put this in some context, we have a $1,900 billion budget, plus or minus. We are contemplating $1 billion of the $1,900 billion that is going to be spent. Let us keep in mind also that the reduction is all in discretionary spending; it is not in mandatory spending. Veteran benefits is mandatory spending. That would not be touched by this. Let us bear in mind also that the amendment gives the administration the authority to have some flexibility, so they could choose to cut some more in some places and not cut at all in other places. Let us also, please, keep in mind we are talking about 1/3 of 1 percent of this Federal budget, meaning that of all of the discretionary spending, 99.67 percent, would go forward. If our colleagues believe it is important to fund FEMA, and I heard many people come down here and say how important this is, this is the amendment that does this. We restore a net of $384 million out of $389 million to FEMA. If our colleagues believe it is important to have some spending discipline, this is the amendment that does that. It says we will offset new spending with reductions. If our colleagues believe in honest offsets and debt reduction, I urge support of this amendment.”