[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 109 (Thursday, July 19, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H5026-H5027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRICKING THE PUBLIC IS OBSCENE

  (Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, funding the military is imperative, and 
supporting our troops at home and abroad is fundamental. But 
overfunding it at the expense of vital domestic programs is 
irresponsible.
  The Defense appropriations bill is $8 billion more than the agreed-
upon level set by the Budget Control Act. This means that real programs 
in our home districts, which many of our constituents rely on, will be 
cut or go unfunded.
  Every family in this Nation knows what it is to make a budget and the 
reasons behind needing it. This bill blatantly ignores the need and 
purpose of a budget. Certain aspects of this bill are hundreds of 
millions of dollars above requested levels. If a family tried to live 
like that, they would be in dire straits.

[[Page H5027]]

  Designating money when it is above and beyond what is needed is 
nothing more than a gratuitous earmark. Now, I am in favor of earmarks; 
I'm just not in favor of trying to trick the public. I believe that 
earmarks are right. It is our constitutional responsibility as Members 
of the House. But tricking the public by adding $8 billion more is 
obscene.

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