Daniels Apologizes for Comments
White House Budget Director Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. said Tuesday he regrets saying New York lawmakers’ efforts to get federal money for Sept. 11-related costs were like “a little money-grubbing game.”
Daniels told the Senate Budget Committee he made a poor choice of words.
“I remember when Winston Churchill once said that he frequently had to eat his words and in general he found it a wholesome diet,” Daniels said. “I regret that my comments were misconstrued.”
Daniels made the “money-grubbing” comment Monday while discussing federal efforts to aid New York City. He upset New York lawmakers when he said $5 billion from a federal compensation fund for Sept. 11 victims would be counted toward the $20 billion that President Bush promised New York.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) pressed Daniels, who said he believes New York will get more than $20 billion.
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