David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, let me say the remarks that I will make are in no way intended to criticize either the distinguished…”

“Mr. Chairman, let me say the remarks that I will make are in no way intended to criticize either the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee or the distinguished ranking member. They have both done the best job they can under the circumstances. The problem is that the circumstances are ridiculous. Let me cite first my concerns with the specifics of this bill. This bill, despite evidence that community policing has been of great assistance in lowering the crime rate, this bill effectively ends the Cops on the Beat program. It provides the last remaining money that is needed to fund that program, but it does not fund the follow-on program that is meant to put additional police on the streets in our communities, because it is not authorized. If this Congress does not provide that money, it is a serious mistake. This bill would take a number of actions which I think are extremely mean-minded in terms of the way it deals with the poor and with minority groups in our society. The bill effectively terminates the Legal Services Corporation. The funding provided would effectively result in a 3-year phaseout of that corporation. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it cuts $33 million or 11 percent below the request. We ought to be doing more to enforce the law against discrimination, not less in real terms.”