Dean Jones says:

In what way is my offer [for one paid research assistant for one year] unacceptable?  Are you wanting one graduate research assistant for a longer period of time?  Or are you wanting additional graduate assistants?  Or is it something else?  Help me to understand...

Your response:

1.    I will need the graduate research assistant for at least two years.  It takes one whole year to train them properly...

2.    I will need more than one graduate research assistant.  I'll be doing a lot of research...

3.    I'd like both multiple graduate research assistants AND I'd like to have them longer.  I'll be doing a lot of research and it takes one whole year to train them properly.