Russ Feingold: “I am just a little puzzled as to how the term ``draconian'' can be applied to my amendment. What does my amendment…”

“I am just a little puzzled as to how the term ``draconian'' can be applied to my amendment. What does my amendment actually call for? The Defense Department, on this issue--or at least the advocates--seem so nervous about talking about this problem that we can't afford these three airplanes that they are referring to an amendment as ``draconian,'' which only asks the Defense Department to give us their opinion, tell us what they think. If you had to give up one of these three airplanes, which one would it be and how would you proceed? I would understand if this was a ridiculous question and why ask it of them. But it isn't. The GAO has said that the E/F is a good airplane, but it is not that much better than the C/D, and it is going to cost $17 billion more. There are others who are really questioning whether this is a good idea. How can it possibly be termed ``draconian'' to simply ask the Defense Department to give us their opinion? It doesn't require a decision. If the crisis that the Senator from Indiana and I both agree may be coming has to be dealt with later, this is the kind of information that would be useful for us to have. We are not required to act on it. The Defense Department is not required to change their mind. How can this be described as draconian? What troubles me about that characterization is, what are we afraid of here as Members of Congress?…”