Herb Kohl: “Let me quote from that letter: We need to prioritize our economic development initiatives and judiciously place taxpayer…”

“Let me quote from that letter: We need to prioritize our economic development initiatives and judiciously place taxpayer dollars in those investments that provide the best return for our state and our country. There are many programs that should not make the cut. However, MEP is one government investment that ranks at the top when evaluated against criteria of national need, effectiveness and results. We should not shortchange or undercut this excellent program. I ask my colleagues, isn't MEP exactly the sort of program a budget with vision would support, a program, as Mr. Haney says, that brings real returns--jobs, economic growth, hope--from our scarce taxpayer dollar, a program that has received strong bipartisan support at the State and national level, a program that faces our challenges head on-- and taps the innovation and work ethic of American businesses to solve them? The Boxer amendment in so many ways adds vision to a budget that is blind when it comes to the trials of the American manufacturing sector. It adds courage to a budget frightened to acknowledge the serious jeopardy our economy faces. And it adds common sense to a budget that calls for short sighted cuts in programs, like MEP, that offer a tenfold return on taxpayer dollars. I urge my colleagues to support the Boxer amendment. I urge the Senate to continue to work to amend this Budget resolution to turn it into the plan that our Nation needs and deserves.”