Political Quotes

“I thought it necessary to second degree the amendment which would authorize the Department of Defense to pay the cost of the additional Active-Duty soldiers for fiscal year 2005 from supplemental or contingent emergency reserve funds because the sponsors of the amendment had not identified the considerable sum, some $2 billion plus, that their amendment would generate in the need for the Army budget. The Army needs this Active-Duty strength. I think we are in agreement on this point. Senator, I indicate now I am going to urge my colleagues to accept the amendment. I note that in the bill we are considering there is a specific authorization which the committee worked out in section 402 for temporary increases of up to 30,000 active duty soldiers above the currently authorized level. This goes 10,000 active-duty soldiers beyond the end strength level proposed in Senators Reed and Hagel's amendment. My second degree amendment, however, addresses the real issue stemming from these increases--how to pay for them. The Reed/Hagel amendment provides no offsets for the $2.4 billion cost of these extra troops.”