David Obey: “Let me simply say that I would very much like to see something worked out, as a representative of a rural area myself.…”

“Let me simply say that I would very much like to see something worked out, as a representative of a rural area myself. My concern, however, is that I would like to avoid a repeat of what we had on the rescissions bill where we were actually debating the language of one provision on the floor, on timber, for instance, while the language, itself, was being worked out between the administration and the committee in a room one floor below us in this building. I would kind of like to know what agreements have been worked out before we decide whether we have to deal with the specifics of the Walsh amendment or not. All we have to go on at this time is the comment from Secretary Glickman which says, 'I am writing to express my strong concerns and objections to the adoption of the amendment in question.' Like the gentleman, I would like to see something worked out. My concern about this rule is that it does not give us the opportunity to have another approach to this problem the way the gentleman from Illinois would have liked to have had in the amendment that he offered. I do not have any objection to the goals that I think all of us share.”