John Spratt: “Mr. Chairman, the debate we have before us is about a supplemental spending bill, but it is not about supplemental…”

“Mr. Chairman, the debate we have before us is about a supplemental spending bill, but it is not about supplemental spending for the war on terrorism, not this debate. When it comes to fighting terrorism, we are not going to be stinting about the cost. We want to win. We support our troops. We support our President. We are ready to vote for supplemental spending to win the war on terrorism. Let us make that clear. But the leadership of this House, knowing that this supplemental would be widely supported, cleverly stuck on it provisions that are totally unrelated to the war on terrorism which we cannot and do not support. One provision in particular sticks in our craw. Members have heard us talk about it. It is seemingly innocuous, just a passing reference to 'the debt of the United States.' But this passing reference is a coy trick, too clever by half, particularly with a matter of such gravity as the national debt of the United States of America. Because what this bill would do without a direct vote, without open acknowledgment, what this bill would do is open the back door for an increase in the national debt of $750 billion.”