House Proceeding 09-29-09 on Sep 29th, 2009 :: 0:11:20 to 0:14:50
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0:11:17 to 0:11:37( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: and with that, if i may, i would like to yield to my colleague, the chairman of the appropriations committee, mr. obey. the speaker pro tempore: for? ms. delauro: for such time as he may want to speak. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from wisconsin is recognized for such time as he may want. mr. obey: i thank the

0:11:20 to 0:14:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: David R. Obey

0:11:38 to 0:11:58( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: gentlewoman for the time. let me say, this is a very interesting institution and we have all kinds of demands placed upon it which are often contradictory. example, many a member in this

0:11:59 to 0:12:20( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: chamber willoudly request that we limit earmarks and then they will also ask when we go into conference that their own earmarks be funded at the highest possible level.

0:12:21 to 0:12:42( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: i've had two members of the house talk to me today about those matters, didn't seem at all bothered by the conflict in what they were asking. we have people who say, these bills should be available for 72 hours before we vote on them, but some of those same people will not want the house to meet on monday, and they will not want the house to meet

0:12:43 to 0:13:04( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: on friday, and if that case, then that means that this bill, for instance, even if it is conferenced tomorrow, could not be voted on any day in the remainder of the week. we have peop who want us to push these bills through before

0:13:05 to 0:13:26( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: the end of the fiscal year, and yet when we say, well, can you go to conference at 8:00 tomorrow morning, we were just told today, no, they couldn't. can you go to conference at 9:00? no, they can't. when we talk to the members of the other body and say, can you go to conference at 11:00

0:13:27 to 0:13:47( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: tomorrow, no, we can only go to conference at 2:00, if it's in the afternoon. so anyone managing a bill, as the gentlewoman from connecticut is going t manage this one, is faced with all kinds of conflicting demands from members who seem to be almost unconscious about

0:13:48 to 0:14:09( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: the fact that their demands in fact are are conflicting. that's all i can say as chairman of the committee is, we will try to give members the maximum time possible to review the bills consistent with our obligation to get the work done. so i think if anyone is

0:14:10 to 0:14:31( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: concerned about a specific item in the bill, i'm sure the gentlewoman and i'm sure the gentleman from georgia will be willing to walk them through what the committee has in mind. but in the end, i would simply -- i'm not going to vote for this motion, because i can't with a straight face both promise to makehese bills

0:14:32 to 0:14:50( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: available for 72 hours and meet all the other conflicting demands that members of the house are making. we've got an obligation to try balance those requirements and we'll do that to the best of our ability and in the end,