Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I can certainly understand why the Senator from Georgia would be a little confused, when Republicans produced a bill…”

“I can certainly understand why the Senator from Georgia would be a little confused, when Republicans produced a bill that gave the President everything he asked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for Bosnia, and for all these other programs that are being replenished for the administration. I can understand why he would be confused that the President would veto the bill and accuse Republicans of playing political games. That is confusing. In fact, I have to say I think the President needs to step up to the line and say what is unreasonable about providing for the orderly process of Government, the orderly appropriations process, telling people what to expect if there is not an agreement on September 30 between the President and Congress. There are no hammers, there is no fear on the part of Government employees or veterans or people who are counting on paychecks coming on time. What is wrong with providing for that? We are not cutting back on what people are getting now. We are just saying, let's provide a level playing field here. Let's negotiate in good faith. And if the President does not want to do that, if the President wants to shut down Government or wants to have a hammer over Congress' head, wants to have some artificial shutdown of Government at his disposal, I would like for the President to explain to the American people why. Why? Because if we do not pass this now, then people will not know what to expect.”