"Right now I don't know what its nature will be," he said. "Some Democrats are very critical and think the plan has too many tax cuts. The GOP thinks more infrastucure makes more sense. There are parts of it I like and some other things that I'm hearing are much less attractive."

Yet even with the debate, Cole predicted a bill would eventually pass.

"We're not going to make the exact deadlines because this is Congress, but I believe the bill will ultimately pass."

Still, the stimulus package and the federal budget won't be Cole's only concern. In the media statement announcing his appointment, the Moore Republican said he wanted to bring "more transparency" to the federal budget process.

"One of the things we've done in the House, but that hasn't been done in the Senate is the Senate can literally add something to a spending bill that has not gone through the committee process. We changed that in the House and that needs to be done in the Senate."

Additionally, Cole said projects which earmark funds in Congressional districts should have the member's name attached to the specific project or proposal. "Both parties have worked really hard to try and attach member names to specific projects and proposals. A name ought to be attached to project funds."

He said Congress also should work toward making "deeper structural reforms" in government spending.

"All those earmarks in spending add up to only about 1 percent," he said. "There needs to be some reform. Those big entitlement spending programs -- Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security -- if we don't deal with those, we've made an enormous mistake."

All issues which eventually find their way back to the Appropriations Committee.

"Yesterday (Thursday) I met with the chair of the Appropriations Committee," he said. "He is an old friend and we have a good relationship. He told me, 'We're going to have disagreements. But buckle up, because the Speaker is determined to get the bill done.'"

M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com