Political Quotes

“I misspoke. The gentleman is correct--$297 million for the next generation of bomber. Is that the right choice? Here's the question: Number one, it may be desirable, but is it affordable? The Office of Management and Budget did not include this as a recommendation in the budget, nor did the President, who is charged more than anyone else in this country with our national defense. We have the right, as a Congress, and the constitutional responsibility to make our own judgments. Mr. Dicks does a great job at that, as does Mr. Young. But we have to ask the question as to whether or not, when our Office of Management and Budget, our House Armed Services Committee both say that the current fleet of bombers--bombers, Mr. Dicks--is functioning very well, can we afford at this time $297 million for additional research? Now, the question is, it may be desirable but is it affordable when we have this horrendous budget squeeze that we know is dividing this Congress because we have to make some very tough choices in the future. The second question that comes up is whether something that may be desirable comes at a cost that is unacceptable. Now, the Defense budget is large, unnecessarily so; but it is the one item of spending that has been exempt from cuts. The Environmental Protection Agency is going to be down 15 percent, NASA down 10 percent.…”