David Obey: “Let us review why we are here. We have this legislation before us today because the President determined that we had an…”

“Let us review why we are here. We have this legislation before us today because the President determined that we had an emergency with respect to Iraq; that we have an emergency need for additional funds to support our troops in Bosnia; that we have had a number of natural disasters around the country which require assistance to localities; we had a severe economic emergency facing the country because of the collapse of Asian currencies, something which will result in a huge trade deficit in this country which will close American factories and put American workers out of work; and that it was also time for us to pay the almost $1 billion in back dues that we owe the United Nations and its associated agencies. The normal process under the budget rules is that, if the President declares an emergency and if Congress concurs, that these funds will be provided without offsets, on the theory, for instance, that if God decides that there is going to be a hurricane somewhere, he does not first have to check with the House of Representatives to make certain that his actions fit under our rules.”