Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am going to be brief and not take my entire time. I think the underlying extension and reform of the Helium Program in this bill is a good provision. It maintains the program. Helium is critical for our businesses, for our industry, for our high- tech community. So I salute the Senator from Oregon and the Senator from Alaska for working together. As written, the Senate bill raises $500 million over 10 years in new revenue. The House bill took the revenue raised by this program and put it to deficit reduction and reducing our debt. The Senate bill--I think unfortunately--instead of using the revenue for deficit reduction, uses $400 of the $500 million for new spending. I raised internally an objection and asked my colleagues if they would consider reducing spending in other parts of the budget to balance it given that we have nearly a $17 trillion national debt. I think the more fiscally responsible thing to do, if we have $500 million in new revenue, is to use it to pay down the deficit and the debt. We have worked together in a bipartisan way to allow this to come to a vote. I thank the Senator from Oregon for agreeing to do that. I intend to vote no, but I am hopeful that in conference committee perhaps the House and Senate can work together to take care of the important concerns with the Helium Program but at the same time demonstrate some additional fiscal responsibility, which I think would be a win-win for everyone.”