David Obey: “I just do not understand why he thinks it is a waste to spend $110 million to produce such a beautiful example of modern…”

“I just do not understand why he thinks it is a waste to spend $110 million to produce such a beautiful example of modern art. This, as has been indicated in the debate before, is a picture of the channel 50 as it is being jammed by Cuban authorities. This is what Cubans are learning when they watch the TV channel which is being jammed. I, for the life of me, cannot figure out why on earth the gentleman from Colorado thinks it is a waste of money to produce such a gorgeous picture. I would have to say seriously, Mr. Chairman, it is my responsibility in this House, as the ranking Democrat on the Committee on Appropriations, to review spending priorities, not just in this subcommittee but in all 13 subcommittees across the government, and try to decide where we must have money spent and where it would be nice to have money spent but, nonetheless, cannot afford to have it spent. If ever there was an area that fell into the latter category, this is it. I would simply point out, the issue is not whether we like Mr. Castro or not. The issue is whether or not we think it is worth spending $110 million of the taxpayers' money to get this. I do not believe it is.”