David Obey: “let me simply make a few brief observations. I have some concerns about a number of items in this bill, including the…”

“let me simply make a few brief observations. I have some concerns about a number of items in this bill, including the international nuclear issues, the squeeze which is created on fusion research by earmarking, which means that you have left only $16 million to fund $51 million worth of demand from research universities around the country. I am concerned about the reduction in solar and renewable energy and about a number of other items, one of which I will be dealing with in an amendment which I will be offering later in the game on the advanced light water reactor. My purpose in rising at this point, however, is to simply note with considerable regret the decision to retire that has been reached by the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Myers] and the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Bevill]. We have seen a number of stories written lately about why this institution seems to be so much more partisan and why it has become a much less pleasant place to work. It certainly has. I think if you want to know why that is happening, I think two reasons are simply that Members like Mr. Myers and Mr. Bevill are retiring. I think that will be a great loss to this institution because they both bring to this institution not only their considerable expertise in the programs with which they deal, but they also bring considerable grace to the way in which they perform their jobs.”