Political Quotes

“we are all in a thanking mode, and I think it is appropriate that we try to do as much as we can, in a bipartisan fashion, when it comes to the military. We will have our differences and funding and our differences about priorities in terms of what helps the economy and what helps to control the deficit. But I want to acknowledge the work of Chairman Nickles' staff and him personally for allowing this amendment to be accepted as part of the budget because working together, in a bipartisan fashion, we are going to carve out about $5.6 billion to be utilized to help alleviate the Guard and Reserve health care problems that currently exist. And Senator Bunning's measured, upgraded GI bill benefits will also be part of the budget. To me, that is a good priority to have made. We have promised to pay for this. I think that is a good statement to have made, too. Once the authorizing committee gets to work with Senator Warner, and then, hopefully, Senator Stevens, who has been a big champion of this cause, they will appropriate what we do on the authorizing committee, that it will be paid for, and that we can bring this program in under the $5.6 billion amount. Senator McCain and others have ideas of how the employer community can contribute. But I would like to inform those maybe listening in the Guard and Reserve community that your needs are well understood by this body, and there is a real bipartisan effort to meet those needs.”