Political Quotes

“If I might follow along, in drafting this bill we have made it very clear that any additional funds next year would be subject to a budget resolution, but they would flow and be distributed precisely as provided in the committee bill, which I hope will eventually become law. So there would be a law in place next spring by which those funds as designated in this amendment would flow immediately pursuant to the terms of the committee bill. Now, the key point, Madam President, is that it would not require the Senate to have another bill, but alternative measures that I have heard about, Madam President and colleagues, that may be offered in the second degree to the amendment we are now discussing would require a new bill. Now, that, to me, is very important because we would take an existing law, move the funds through it under a formula, hopefully, that Senators will find equitable and not have to revisit in an election year. Madam President, those of us who have been here a while know--and I certainly defer to the experience and knowledge of the former majority leader of the U.S. Senate--in an election year, the chances of getting through a bill of this nature, allocating funds, is exceedingly difficult.”