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<br />Mr. Goldsmith: Could I have one further question of perhaps Larry? <br />What about the $500,000 that is in budgetary reserve, do the Fruitland <br />Mesa people have a right to think maybe their tag is on that $500,OOO? <br />Is that going to get lost? What is going to happen to it? Is it ever <br />going to come out of there, or can it be spent for something else in <br />the meantime? <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Mr. Sparks: That is one of many hundreds of items in the budgetary <br />reserve. There is now a bitter fight between the Congress and the <br />President about this problem. Congress contends that the President <br />has no authority to impound these funds. I tend to agree with the <br />Congress under any reasonable interpretation of the constitution. <br /> <br />Mr. Goldsmith: That's two votes for that. <br /> <br />Mr. Sparks: The President is still the President. He exercises con- <br />siderable control over the financial system of this country. What we <br />are asking is that that $500,000 in budgetary reserve be released in <br />order that we can complete the plans and specifications for this proj- <br />ect. Fiscal year 1974 is almost upon us. <br /> <br />Mr. Goldsmith: Well, if I could be so presumptuous to make this sug- <br />gestion. I realize that your board has a tremendous responsibility <br />and it is no fun. And the question I would like to leave with you is, <br />Isn't it a little bit premature to almost abandon Congress in its <br />present tussling with the OMB and the administration and indicate that <br />out here where the water is really needed that we are ready to kind of <br />forget backing up our congressional delegation, in fact, the entire <br />Congress of the United States, and start playing along with this game? <br />And of course, I think that is the question and I don't presume to <br />know the answer. But I certainly feel for you folks that have to make <br />that decision. With the temperature in this room this morning, you <br />have proven that you have a high tolerance to heat, and I am persuaded <br />of that. <br /> <br />11r. Stapleton: Thank you. Now are there any further questions from <br />members of the board on the Fruitland Mesa project? <br /> <br />Mr. Stapleton: <br />what we mean. <br /> <br />I am sure that's what we said at the outset, and that's <br />Any questions from any members of the audience on the <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Mr. Ford: I would like to make the statement that we are not ready to <br />give in to anybody. We are going to try all the way down the line for <br />these projects. <br /> <br />-49- <br />