Political Quotes

“Mr. President, this is an amendment offered by the Senator from Virginia, together with the Senator from Florida [Mr. Graham]. And we entitle it simply a ``fairness amendment.'' I hesitate to take on the wisdom of the distinguished chairman and the distinguished ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, but I do so out of a sense of fairness toward all 50 States. Mr. President, the amendment relates to the bill's provision affecting the distribution of $933 million in additional--I point out, additional--obligation authority in the Federal Highway Program to the 50 States. A small part of this funding is fully justified. It provides to correct the mistake made by the Department of Treasury in 1994 in underestimating gas tax receipts into the highway trust fund. As a result of this mistake, 10 States did not receive their correct apportionment of Federal highway dollars in 1996. And I fully agree and commend the Appropriations Committee in its efforts to make whole these few States, 10 in number, who received less than they should have in 1996 dollars.”