Joe Cunningham: “one of the things I think most of us respect mostly on this floor is someone that we may disagree with but fights for…”

“one of the things I think most of us respect mostly on this floor is someone that we may disagree with but fights for principle, and I know the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), even though we disagree on some issues, one thing he does, he stands up for what he believes in. I respect that very, very much, and part of me understands what the gentleman is doing. But let me give you just another side of some of our feelings. I did not know what they were doing on this particular bill. I am not in the leadership. I do not have a staff. I am just a small cog in this whole membership. But each year I turn back about 20 percent of my own office budget. I try not to put in extra newsletters, do all the things that many of the Members do, and try to turn back money to the government to set an example, yet I try and take care of my staff very well. There are 13 appropriation bills, Mr. Speaker, and there are many of us that, when it comes down the line, things like Labor-HHS, I chaired a committee hearing for the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Porter). I had to shut down the hearing twice because the hearing was about children that had diseases and their only hope was Labor-HHS and medical research. I had to stop. I had so many tears coming down my eyes. I will never sit in another one of those hearings. I cannot do it.”