Tom Rice: “I rise to speak about an entirely different topic today. And my topic pales in comparison to the death of children at…”

“I rise to speak about an entirely different topic today. And my topic pales in comparison to the death of children at the hands of this awful clinic, so please excuse me for the diversion. What I rise to speak about today is the sequester and the effects on the Federal Aviation Administration. You see, in my State of South Carolina, our budget is actually less than it was 5 years ago. Whereas, in the last 5 years, the Federal budget has risen by 29 percent. In a time when hardworking Americans are tightening their belts, when State and local governments are tightening their belts, the Federal budget is up 29 percent. We run record deficit after record deficit. Yet with sequester, we're seeking a 2.4 percent cut--after a 29 percent rise in the last 5 years, 2.4 percent. My State has cut its budget with minimal disruption because the Governor and the legislature have worked together to do exactly that, minimize disruption. This administration, on the other hand, is making every effort to make this 2.4 percent cut as painful as they possibly can. ____________________”