David Obey: “I would appreciate it if the majority leader could respond to one question. As he knows, one of the contentious items…”

“I would appreciate it if the majority leader could respond to one question. As he knows, one of the contentious items still remaining is the final disposition of the supplemental, and the issue within that that is causing the most heartburn is whether there will be any significant increase in funding for homeland security. In light of the fact that I note today that a coalition of Mayors and Governors have appealed to the Congress and the White House to provide funds in addition to those being requested by the administration for things such as aid to local communities for homeland security costs and aid to local communities to upgrade their public health services; and in light of the fact that Governor Engler has been one of the lead spokesmen on that, I would simply ask the gentleman, again, within the leadership circles on that side of the aisle, to urge that we listen to those expressions of concern and find a way to provide at least the amount that was provided in the Senate action early last week on homeland security.”