Lizzie Fletcher: “if the gentleman from Georgia will yield, let me say in conclusion that this increase in funding that is going to have a…”

“if the gentleman from Georgia will yield, let me say in conclusion that this increase in funding that is going to have a tremendous impact on finding breakthroughs and cures, as the gentleman said, only came about because we looked back a number of years; and we had deficits in the $200 billion range. Now we are going to be paying off $170 billion of the publicly held debt this next year. But the only reason we can put and continue to put money in basic research is because of the fact that we have not started all the new programs that the President asked for, that he wanted to spend more money on more programs and bigger government. We have restrained the growth of government. But we have emphasized those priorities that are very important. We are doing a better job of doing what government is supposed to do and not spending money and wasting it on a lot of programs that have been proven to be ineffective. So I am very encouraged that we are spending it in Medicare and targeted prescription drugs where it is needed, basic research, and that we are still able to pay down the debt, provide some tax fairness and relief. I think we have got an outstanding budget. I do hope my colleagues on the other side will find their way to support this budget.”