[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1017]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                SPENDING

  Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. President, I happened to come to the floor to hear my 
colleagues from Illinois and Iowa talking about their concern for the 
deficit and for spending priorities, and I share their concern.
  However, it is worth noting that at this time the pending business of 
the Senate is a transportation bill that is, by any standards, 
enormous. It represents an increase of over 40 percent over the 
previous 6-year bill. It represents a dramatic expansion in the size 
and scope of Federal Government. It totals over $300 billion. 
Unfortunately, it seeks to obtain funds by diverting general revenue 
tax receipts into the highway trust fund, something that has never been 
done before.
  To the best of my knowledge, both of my colleagues who spoke earlier 
are more than willing to vote for this enormous spending measure.
  I just do not think it is credible to take the floor and raise 
concerns about deficits and spending priorities and, at the same time, 
be willing to support such a massive increase in infrastructure 
spending, when we know full well that States are very capable of making 
sound decisions for this kind of construction and investment. We know 
full well that it is wrong to divert money from the general revenue 
fund in order to support an expansion of this funding. And we know full 
well this bill is significantly in excess of what has been proposed by 
the President.
  While I do not agree with all the priorities in the President's 
budget, I think it is fair to say that we would have $20 or $30 or $40 
or $50 billion more for the priorities my colleagues spoke about if 
they would join with me in raising concerns about this bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be recognized 
in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is recognized.

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