Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, this amendment reduces funding for the Denali Commission by $2 million, to the FY19 prepandemic level. The Denali Commission's mission of providing job training and other economic development services in rural Alaska can better be served by the 29 other Federal programs with which it duplicates. There are 29 other programs doing this. The Obama administration sought to eliminate funding for the commission in FY12 because it was duplicative and did not select projects based on competition or merit. Again, we are just handing out money, but we have a fancy name. In 2013, the inspector general for the Denali Commission called for the elimination of the program. The elimination of the program. I am just saying, let's take it to FY19, $2 million. The inspector general stated that he recommended that Congress put its money elsewhere. Well, it is not our money. It is their money. It is our bosses' money. You might go to Alaska. I don't know if you need a job training program if you go there. Maybe if you plan to go, you should--well, that is another story. The Trump administration, likewise, sought to eliminate the commission in FY18, FY19, FY20, and FY21. Again, it seems imprudent to continually fund yet another parochial commission in the face of two administrations. It seems like that to me; it might not to you, but these are both parties. People say, well, you folks up there can't get along, can't agree on anything.…”