David Obey: “as everyone knows, we have already indicated the problems in this bill for education and for environmental cleanup. The…”

“as everyone knows, we have already indicated the problems in this bill for education and for environmental cleanup. The focus of this motion to recommit is quite different. Mr. Speaker, after passage of the Veterans' Administration appropriation bill through the House, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs was not exactly bashful in indicating his displeasure with some of the funding cuts and policy recommendations adopted by the House. As a citizen of a free country and a congressionally confirmed member of the President's Cabinet, he was completely within his rights and was simply executing part of his duties as the administration's principal advocate for veterans. But apparently that demonstration of free speech was too much for those who did not agree with his statements. The result in conference was language sharply limiting the Secretary's travel budget and reducing a number of personnel positions available to the Secretary. This bill contains those provisions. The message is apparently very clear: Disagree with the majority who run this house on a veterans' issue and you will pay the price. I might add this is not an isolated incident. The Secretary of the Interior has also been treated in a similar manner. He too has been very vocal in expressing his concerns about some of the provisions in the appropriation bill for Interior. His punishment was to see his office budget reduced by an additional 10 percent because he spoke out.”