David Obey: “So we have evidence right here in this amendment, Mr. Chairman, to verify our fears. We do not even yet have the block…”

“So we have evidence right here in this amendment, Mr. Chairman, to verify our fears. We do not even yet have the block grant put into law and already this amendment is trying to cut it by $450 million. Then it cuts Indian education. It even cuts $3 million out of Gallaudet, the school for the blind. And there are some other cuts. So, Mr. Chairman, I would point out that even the people who are the beneficiaries of this amendment are asking that it not be passed. The Council for Exceptional Children, that is the group that lobbies for funding for special education is saying, ``Do we want the money? Yes. But do we want it at the expense of cutting these other educational programs? No, we do not.'' PTA is saying the same thing. Our local school administrators are saying the same thing. I do not blame the gentleman for offering this amendment, because he has a legitimate heartfelt concern. But what this amendment demonstrates is what we have been trying to say all year on this side of the aisle. It demonstrates there is simply not enough funding in this bill for education of all kinds and for health care and for job training. Sooner or later the majority will recognize that. Sooner or later it is going to have to change this equation so that we get a better deal for middle-class taxpayers; and, at the same time, sooner or later we will put back not only the money for special education but the additional money we need for Pell Grants, for Title I, and the list goes on and on.”