Political Quotes

“I reluctantly oppose the amendment. I know there are many Members on this side of the aisle and certain Members on the other side of the aisle who feel this is an area that should be exempt, sacrosanct, should be protected from what we are providing for the President with the line-item veto. But I submit, Mr. Chairman, this amendment really flies in the face of the purpose of what we are trying to accomplish in H.R. 2, and would, in fact, restrict the President's rescission authority even more greatly than does current law. It would go beyond what we can do under existing law, and I think the amendment should be defeated. I think the gentleman's amendment would single out for special treatment defense appropriations of more than $50 million, and I would say to the gentleman and to the Members there are many programs, nondefense-related programs, that rise to the level of pork or could rise to the level of pork which would be exempted from even being considered for a line-item rescission under this bill.”