Political Quotes

“Woman, I haven't been here very long, only 3 years, but I've seen a pattern developing now which is that each year the Defense Department, the Pentagon, comes over and asks for a certain amount of money, and then we give them more than they ask for. What the amendment does today is simply gives the Pentagon what they ask for. They asked for $80 billion to run the overseas contingency operation. For some reason, we decided to give them 85 billion. They come in; they defined a mission and they tell us what it costs to do that; and then, for some reason, we decide to give them more. All we're doing today is taking the folks who run the military at their word that they know what it costs to defend this Nation. I think it bears repeating that both Secretary Hagel and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs were here just last week and said that $80 billion worth of OCO funding was enough to meet the mission. Simply spending more money than the Defense Department asks for does not mean we are stronger on defense than anybody else. It's simply foolish to waste money. If the Pentagon tells us they need $80 billion, we should look seriously at giving them $80 billion. {time} 1020 I disagree respectfully with my friend from Virginia who says that this amendment will hurt national security. If you assume that, then you must assume that what the Pentagon asked for in the first place would hurt national security. I'm simply not willing to agree to that.…”