David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, I do this to try to avoid having to take a lot of time on a recommittal motion, and let me say this about…”

“Mr. Chairman, I do this to try to avoid having to take a lot of time on a recommittal motion, and let me say this about final passage of this bill: I have frankly gotten whiplash from watching the majority party reverse its position on military action in Yugoslavia during the past week. First we had a vote to withdraw troops, and they voted 127 to 92 in favor. Then on the Gejdenson amendment, the one originally offered in the Senate by Senators McCain and Warner to support current policy in Yugoslavia, namely the air war, they voted 31 to 187 against. Of the 97 Republicans who voted against the withdrawal, 62 voted against the air war. They then voted for a resolution restricting the use of ground troops 203 to 16, but that was last week. Now, we have had the Istook amendment on this bill, which tried to make real last week's restriction on ground troops, and the same leadership which lobbied their Members to restrict the use of ground troops last week lobbied them against a restriction on ground troops this week. This time they voted against the restriction 116 to 97. A total of 101 reversed their vote from a week earlier. Now, finally, undoubtedly they will vote overwhelmingly for final passage of an appropriation that more than doubles the amount of money requested by the President for the war which they voted against last week. I respect every individual decision made in this House.…”