Patty Murray: “the amendment I offer is the one I spoke about earlier today. Clearly, we are in a very important day in the history of…”

“the amendment I offer is the one I spoke about earlier today. Clearly, we are in a very important day in the history of this country, and really of this world, as we wait to find out what is going to happen in Iraq. All of our thoughts and prayers are with the young men and women who wait, as we do, to see what is going to happen. Certainly our country is anxious and on edge, and we all hope they are successful. We all hope this endeavor leaves us where this country needs to be. But certainly a lot else is going on as well. Here we are on the floor of the Senate debating a budget resolution that has been put forward by the majority party. I am one of those who come to the Chamber to express my serious concern that the budget before us does not include any funds to pay for the war in Iraq, nor does it pay for the peace we hope will ensue afterwards. We do not know what the cost is going to be. Yet hidden inside this budget is a major tax cut that will make it impossible for us to be able to provide what is important for the country, whether it is a war in Iraq or, as my constituents are worried about, a conflict in North Korea, if one occurs there as well. Also, in this budget we are looking at tremendous cuts to the education of our young children.”