David Obey: “I would simply say that what is at issue here is not whether we ought to have a strong defense or not. It is not whether…”

“I would simply say that what is at issue here is not whether we ought to have a strong defense or not. It is not whether we ought to provide our troops with the best equipment money can buy or not. Obviously we need a strong defense and obviously we need to provide the best weaponry that money can buy for our troops. The question is, do we really need to buy nine additional bombers that the Pentagon is saying we do not need, the Secretary of Defense is saying we do not need, especially when we have other higher priority items in the military budget. I think the answer to that question is no. I think we ought to heed those some 20 studies that have been conducted on this matter. This amendment is supported on a bipartisan basis and I would urge the House to adopt it.”