Charles W. Stenholm: “I must respectfully differ with the chairman of the Committee on Rules. The majority has justified the decision of the…”

“I must respectfully differ with the chairman of the Committee on Rules. The majority has justified the decision of the Committee on Rules to not allow the minority to offer an amendment because it is not a complete substitute. That explanation would be laughable if it were not so sad. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) submitted a comprehensive substitute to all of the provisions within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. He did not get into the Committee on Agriculture, which is what we should do around here. I would be perfectly willing as the ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture to work with the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Rules. But for the gentleman from California to stand on the floor and say that he followed the rules of the House is not correct. I am troubled, also, that this rule waives budget points of order and allows us to pass legislation adding another $34 billion-plus to the deficit. The other body passed a bill that would not add to the deficit. Some of us are making the argument that we ought to go with pay-as-you-go. I believe that. I heard speech after speech after speech last night arguing about a million here and a million there, and today it is billions, and wink and smile and then come to the floor and say, well, we are following the rules.”