David Obey: “whoever designed this proposition today is a real piece of work. This is the bill that was submitted to the Committee on…”

“whoever designed this proposition today is a real piece of work. This is the bill that was submitted to the Committee on Rules last night, a perfectly coherent bill. I had already indicated my intentions to support the Republican chairman's effort. I thought he did a reasonable job, even though he had inadequate resources. This is the bill after the Committee on Rules has gotten done with it. Look at this. The Committee has shredded the document that we are supposed to take seriously when we come to this floor and debate it today. It is eviscerated. I do not understand the majority leadership in this House. Earlier this year, I was asked if I would work out a process which would enable the majority to pass its appropriation bills in a timely fashion. I have been working with the majority; and so far, we have worked out a process which we expect will enable us to support at least seven of the appropriation bills that are coming to the floor. I had fully expected to stand shoulder to shoulder today with the gentleman from Kentucky, the chairman of the subcommittee, who has done a most thoughtful job in providing necessary oversight for one of the most dysfunctional agencies in this government; and even though he had been given inadequate resources, I had indicated that because of the quality of that oversight I intended to vote for the bill. That is no longer the case.…”