David Obey: “let me first say that I regret very much that I am offering this amendment under these circumstances. But for anyone who…”

“let me first say that I regret very much that I am offering this amendment under these circumstances. But for anyone who happens to be watching, either Members or anyone else, on C-SPAN, I am afraid what they are witnessing is another step in the gradual destruction of the ability of this House to conduct rational debate. What is now happening is that amendments of substance will be debated with virtually nobody in the room. Members will then be called upon as the first order of business tomorrow to vote on those amendments, not having heard them, not having even had the opportunity to watch them from their offices on their TV screens. They will walk in blind and we will be asked, ``What is in this? Oh, I don't get it.'' And within about a minute they have to make up their minds. I think it is a further debilitating of this House, but there is not a whole lot that I can do about it. Mr. Chairman, let me simply explain what this amendment is. This amendment accomplishes two important objectives. First, it deletes funding for an unauthorized, unbudgeted construction project that appears to be premature at best. Second, it increases funding for veterans' medical care.”