Charles W. Stenholm: “The numbers in our chart represent the original Republican requests, the original President's request, and the Blue Dog…”

“The numbers in our chart represent the original Republican requests, the original President's request, and the Blue Dog request that we have begged and pleaded with those of you on the other side to agree with us on numbers that we could stand together. If we are so concerned about the President's request for spending, why did my colleagues never at one time, their leadership, ever come to the Blue Dogs and say we accept your numbers which is between the President and you. So the point of the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) is well taken except I think my point still stands. We are spending more because my colleagues have voted for it. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's point he is making because it is a valid point and is one which more people need to understand. But the finger pointing needs to stop. It needs to stop. The problem is not today with the Budget Act, as some would say. The problem is with a leadership in this House that has made the budget process irrelevant by proposing unrealistic budgets, refusing to work in a bipartisan manner on a realistic budget that would have held down spending to less than what the President has requested. That is the problem. As I said this morning, I have no quarrel with the Committee on Appropriations, and I see the chairman here and the ranking member. I have no problem here. Mine is with the process and the finger pointing that has gotten into the political process, which it is ridiculous.”