Rep. Don Young: "Those That Bite Me Will Be Bitten Back"

On July 18, 2007, during an exchange on the House floor, Congressman Don Young (R-AK) threatened Congressman Scott Garrett (R-NJ-5), who had offered an amendment to cut appropriations for an Alaskan and Hawaiian earmark, "Those that bite me will be bitten back."

Transcript: "My friends, this is a sad day in this body. Apparently, the students in New Jersey are trying to take money from Alaskan students, pitting state against state instead of talking about education.

"I am a little bit chagrined by the gentlemen from New Jersey. This is supposed to be a house of honor. You didn't tell me you were going to offer this amendment. You didn't talk to the gentlemen from Hawaii on [inaudible] amendment. You are attacking two states that are not contiguous to the United States.

"This is a harmful thing to do. We are a new state. I have poverty that you don't even think of. And yet you say you want my money. My money. For my students. That need to be educated to go to New Jersey. That's a sad day for this house.

"I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member on appropriations for putting this in the bill.

"And if we continue this, we'll be called biting one another. Very much like the mink in my state that kill their own. There's always another day when who that bite will be killed, too. And I am very good at that.

"I have provided education. I have supported education. My people have risen and become leaders, because this Congress saw the wisdom of providing this money.

"And now we have an individual from a state, that doesn't have the greatest reputation in the world, trying to take money from one state to give to another state. Now if that's the case, then let's just all have a big donnybrook right here. I'm ready. I'm really ready. Because what we're doing is dead wrong.

"And if there is a guilt here, it's because I have been able to represent my state better than New Jersey. I would suggest New Jersey ought to elect some new congressman. I suggest that respectfully can do the job. I believe that's really true. And if they can't do the job, then elect someone new. I've done it. I'm gonna continue to do it. I'm gonna fight for my state. And I will fight for my state every time.

[Cross talk.]

"And for the rest of you that continue this constant harping on this floor about cutting monies from other areas under the guide of balancing the budget, I say shame on you, too.

"So I am a little frustrated. And like I say, Those that bite me will be bitten back.

Additional reading:

Jackie Kucinich, "The Bitter Says He Will Bite Back," Hill, July 19, 2007: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/the-bitten-says-he-will-bite-back-2007-07...

Category:

News & Politics

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• Young
• Scott
• Garrett
• Earmarks
• Bite
• Me

[kmax123456789]

this guy is one of the reasons why democrats are now in control of D.C.

[23SLAPAHOE23]

thiz is dum..

[CaliBeach0007]

Parnell '08!