Thomas Daschle: “let me say, first, I think the distinguished chairman, as always, does a fine job in working with the allocation with…”

“let me say, first, I think the distinguished chairman, as always, does a fine job in working with the allocation with which he is presented. That is not only his choice, I know in many respects he has fought hard for greater allocations so we can address many of these issues. So my argument is not with him. He is making the most out of a very difficult situation. Having said that, let me just say a couple of other things. We have used the same mechanism in an offset for this amendment that our colleague, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, used in offering his amendment to increase the subcommittee's allocation for fiscal 2004. So I join with Senator Stevens in using what apparently is an appropriate and acceptable mechanism for the offset. So we have the offset. But I would make one other point. Again, I say this with all deference to the chairman of the committee. I don't remember how he voted on the budget. I didn't vote for the budget. I didn't vote for these allocations. I didn't vote for the priorities that that budget presents--$3 trillion of tax cuts over the course of the next 10 years. We are going to be asked--I am told this morning by the White House-- to find another $70 billion for Iraq. I am not sure yet what my vote will be. I want to hear the justification from the administration. I would like to ask them what their offset is.”