Thomas Daschle: “This veto ought not be necessary. This veto represents a determination by the President that this Congress do the job…”

“This veto ought not be necessary. This veto represents a determination by the President that this Congress do the job for which we were all sworn to do. We can do it right. We can complete the appropriations bills on time. We can be responsive to the needs that we anticipate this fall. We can recognize that the budget agreement we have agreed to is one that we will toil through and that the agreement is better than what we imply with this amendment, that our word is our bond and that we are going to commit to that level of investment this year, next year, and for the next 5 years. That is why this legislation, this amendment, is so ill-advised. It breaks the agreement. It discounts the need to come back, and it will be vetoed. I urge we reject the automatic CR by supporting the amendment of the distinguished Senator from West Virginia if we cannot find a way with which to resolve it through compromise. I stand ready to continue to find ways with which to make compromise possible, and I hope we could do it prior to the time we find the need to vote on final passage. Short of that, I hope Senators will realize the extraordinary repercussions that this provision will have for this bill. I urge support for the amendment to strike the automatic CR.”