[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25701]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 REPUBLICANS STIFLE OPEN AND MEANINGFUL DEBATE ON BUDGET RECONCILIATION

  (Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, having served in the California State 
legislature for 24 years, half of which was spent in a leadership role, 
I know how to engage in a bipartisan process. This budget 
reconciliation bill is not bipartisan.
  Rather than provide the House with an opportunity to engage in a 
serious and meaningful budget discussion, we are left with this take-
it-or-leave-it package that, if passed, will increase our budget 
deficit nearly $20 billion.
  Rather than accept an offer by the Blue Dogs to discuss our 12-point 
deficit reduction alternative, we are left with this plan as our only 
option. It is a Hobson's choice, which is no choice at all.
  Rather than do what our constituents expect us to do, which is 
discuss, debate, and have meaningful oversight and make tough policy 
choices, we are left with a budget reconciliation package that is 
nothing more than a fig leaf to cover up a host of fiscal shortcomings.
  I may be new to Congress and the process, but I know this budget 
reconciliation package is wrongheaded and sadly lacking in 
transparency. I urge a ``no'' vote.

                          ____________________