Political Quotes

“Only in Washington can we have the debate over how desperately New York and the U.N. needs $100 million, while simultaneously arguing that not giving that money to the U.N. would not result in any savings for the U.S. taxpayer. If money is vital in one account, how can it be worthless in another? The truth is that CBO is restrained in its analysis; and because of those rules it is forced to observe, it reached the conclusion that having the U.N. repay the U.S. $179 million would have no impact on our balance book. How can getting $179 million from the U.N. not be counted as savings? Does any person who has ever balanced a checkbook believe this to be true? Of course not. Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, the legislation introduced by House Republicans to return $179 million from the United Nations Tax Equalization Fund, TEF, is both factually inaccurate and diverts Congress' attention from far more pressing national security considerations facing the 112th Congress, such as Afghanistan. The bill incorrectly states that there is $179 million in the TEF to date, when in fact there is $79 million. The legislation fails to take into account the $100 million that United States has already committed to support critical security upgrades at the U.N. Headquarters, as requested by the City of New York. Forcefully transferring $179 million to Treasury--as this bill dictates--would make it impossible for the U.S.…”