Political Quotes

“This appropriations bill presents us with a number of difficult, if not outright conflicting, choices. Certainly I and other members would prefer to have debated each of these bills individually with an opportunity to offer amendments.--6 of 12. The spending decisions being made today will have far reaching implications for all Americans, whether it's access to a community health center, quality classroom instruction or support for local police and firefighters. Some of these priorities enjoy bipartisan agreement, but some do not. We ought to have those debates, Mr. Speaker, so the public can be more informed and have time to weigh in with their thoughts to better inform our decisions. In reviewing this bill, I once again come to the conclusion that the Republican leadership in the House knows the cost of everything yet the value of nothing. For example, the Energy and Water bill preserves level funding for the renewable energy program to support research and development of alternative fuels in support of America's energy independence. Yet the same bill undercuts the foundation of our Nation's economic innovation by cutting half the budget for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) and reducing funds for basic science research. Similarly, this bill slashes funding for virtually every environmental safety initiative the federal government has pursued to protect public safety, including those promoting clean air and water.…”