Russ Feingold: “today I have voted in support of Senator Byrd's amendment to strike $15.2 billion in reconstruction aid from the…”

“today I have voted in support of Senator Byrd's amendment to strike $15.2 billion in reconstruction aid from the supplemental appropriations bill. I supported this amendment not because I oppose the overall intent of some of this spending-- helping Iraqis establish order and setting the country on a path to stability and development--but because it is clear that there has been insufficient planning and insufficient explanation as to how this $15.2 billion in reconstruction assistance would be spent. This portion of the request needs careful consideration and, frankly, this portion of the policy desperately needs improvement. It makes sense to sever this portion from the rest of the request to allow for that process without delaying action on all of the issues before us.”