Help One Child Who Has Cancer? ...
“WHY WOULD WE WANT TO DO THAT?”
“WHY WOULD WE WANT TO DO THAT?”
Becket Adams, TheBlaze — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was asked during a press conference Wednesday why he opposes a House bill that would fund the National Institutes of Health during the partial government shutdown if it could “help one child who has cancer.”And he was apparently unprepared for the question from CNN’s Dana Bash.
“You all talked about children with cancer unable to go to clinical trials. The House is presumably going to pass a bill that funds at least the NIH,” Bash began. “Given what you’ve said, will you at least pass that? And if not, aren’t you playing the same political games that Republicans are?”
Her question is in reference to several House appropriations bills that would keep certain institutions funded during the partial government shutdown. Senate Democrats say they will not negotiate with the House on anything until it passes a “clean” continuing resolution, ending the shutdown completely and leaving Obamacare untouched.
“What right did they have to pick and choose what part of government is going to be funded? It’s obvious what’s going on here. You talk about reckless and irresponsible,” said Sen. Reid. “[T]hey have no right to pick and choose.”
Bash persisted: “But if you can help one child who has cancer, why wouldn’t you do it?”
“Why pit one against the other?” Sen. Chuck Schumer said off microphone, avoiding the the main question.
“Why would we want to do that?” Reid said with a confused look on his face after stuttering. “I have 1,100 people at Nellis Air Force base that are sitting home. They have a few problems of their own.”
“This is — to have someone of your intelligence to suggest such a thing maybe means you’re irresponsible and reckless,” he added.
“I’m just asking a question,” Bash said.
“Why Would We Want To”
Help One Kid With Cancer?
Help One Kid With Cancer?
» Video missing? Watch full screen here
And in response to what “right” does the House have to pick and choose which parts of government are funded, David Freddoso notes the following passage from the Constitution, Article I, Section 9: “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law…”
“Congress holds the power of the purse,” Freddoso notes. “As one of Congress’s two chambers, the House of Representatives has some power to decide which functions of government are funded.”
Here’s the full exchange between Bash and Sen. Reid:
Reid Responds To Question On NIH Funding Bill
» Video missing? Watch full screen here
Video Description:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) asked why Senate Democrats would want to fund the National Institutes of Health to "help one child who has cancer" Wednesday when asked that question by CNN reporter Dana Bash.
» Full ArticleDANA BASH: You all talked about children with cancer unable to go to clinical trials. The House is presumably going to pass a bill that funds at least the NIH. Given what you've said, will you at least pass that? And if not, aren't you playing the same political games that Republicans are?
HARRY REID: Listen, Sen. Durbin explained that very well, and he did it here, did it on the floor earlier, as did Sen. Schumer. What right did they have to pick and choose what part of government is going to be funded? It's obvious what's going on here. You talk about reckless and irresponsible. Wow. What this is all about is Obamacare. They are obsessed. I don't know what other word I can use. They're obsessed with this Obamacare. It's working now and it will continue to work and people will love it more than they do now by far. So they have no right to pick and choose.
BASH: But if you can help one child who has cancer, why wouldn't you do it?
REID: Why would we want to do that? I have 1,100 people at Nellis Air Force base that are sitting home. They have a few problems of their own. This is -- to have someone of your intelligence to suggest such a thing maybe means you're irresponsible and reckless --
BASH: I'm just asking a question.
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About the Author
Hailing from South Bend, Ind., Becket Adams is one of 12 children. He graduated with a BA in history in 2008 before enrolling in a Master of Science in Business Analysis program two years later (after waiting tables and selling guitars) at The Catholic University of America. He has interned with The National Journalism Center and had the opportunity to serve as chief research assistant to both the Washington Examiner’s David Freddoso and The Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore. Becket joined The Blaze after graduating from CUA and The NJC.
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