Herb Kohl: “I rise in opposition to the Domenici amendment. I do so for one simple reason. Senator Domenici's amendment would…”

“I rise in opposition to the Domenici amendment. I do so for one simple reason. Senator Domenici's amendment would eliminate a $26 billion spending cut. Because of the Exon-Grassley amendment offered in Budget Committee, the budget before us today cuts substantially more than recommended by the President and cuts substantially more than a freeze would require. Last year, we appropriated $550 billion in nonentitlement funds. If this resolution passes, we will appropriate $540 billion--and stick at that level for the next 5 years. Senator Domenici's amendment would return appropriated spending in the budget to approximately the level suggested by the President. The Domenici amendment would add $26 billion to the amount the budget allows the Appropriations Committee to spend. I am surprised to find my friends on the other side of the aisle working so hard to defend the spending proposed by a Democratic President. I am surprised to see them working so hard to eliminate billions of dollars of spending cuts. The Domenici amendment is a clear demonstration that it is easier to talk about cutting spending than it is to actually do it. It is said that talk is cheap, but today talk is costing taxpayers billions of dollars. If the Domenici amendment passes, we will have talked ourselves out of one of the bravest spending cuts this body has ever seen.”