Charles W. Stenholm: “I first want to commend the CATs. I guess that is permissible for a dog to do because their budget enforcement…”

“I first want to commend the CATs. I guess that is permissible for a dog to do because their budget enforcement mechanisms are something that I totally support. I think they are right on target and I think their criticisms of the base bill are right on target and we agree with them. We look at their defense numbers. They are making a move in the right direction there, and I appreciate the fact that they are talking about Social Security in a much more honest and realistic way than most folks have talked about it today. My concerns with their budget stem from their funding for agriculture at the committee level. I believe that is totally inadequate, given the problems of rural America and agriculture, and I happen to disagree with that. I also disagree in the area of veterans. As the gentleman from Mississippi so eloquently explained the Blue Dog position on military retirees and veterans, I happen to believe the CATs are inadequate in that area, but there again we can do as we have been doing all day. My primary opposition to their budget stems again in the area of the tax cut and the size of it.”