David Obey: “Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the Budget Act was to force the Congress to make tough trade-off…”

“Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the Budget Act was to force the Congress to make tough trade-off choices, by making trade-offs between individual programs on the spending side and by making trade-offs between revenue levels and spending levels. The problem with the way the budget process is being approached these days is that instead of forcing Congress to look at those trade-offs clearly, the process has been fragmented so that spending decisions occur at one point in the year, revenue decisions occur at another, and the public is therefore never aware of the connection that exists between the two. Unfortunately, because that is the way the majority has proceeded it means that this amendment is subject to a point of order if any Member chooses to make one, and so I very regretfully concede the point of order. The Acting CHAIRMAN. The point of order is conceded and sustained. The Clerk will read.…”