David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, this is another in a series of amendments being offered by a small band of Members on the other side of…”

“Mr. Chairman, this is another in a series of amendments being offered by a small band of Members on the other side of the aisle to, in essence, on an amendment-by-amendment basis gut one of the two top priorities of the President in this bill. I did not vote for the budget agreement. I have minimum high regard for the budget agreement. I think that in many ways the budget agreement that was endorsed by a majority of both parties is a public lie because I do not believe that the spending cuts which are contained in that budget agreement will, in fact, in the fourth and fifth years, be voted for by Members of either party. But nonetheless, the Congress adopted it. When we did so, we reached certain understandings with both branches of Government and with both parties. That understanding was that, as I said earlier, the priorities of each of the parties, the priorities of the President would be largely respected. We have already seen now two cuts adopted on the House floor with respect to goals. This cuts another $40 million out of one of the President's top two priorities, so we have already seen one of the President's top two priorities reduced by a substantial amount.”