Heidi Alexander: “I am here for another reason, but I am listening to the distinguished majority whip, the Senator from Texas. I…”

“I am here for another reason, but I am listening to the distinguished majority whip, the Senator from Texas. I congratulate him on his remarks and make an observation. I was once the Republican Governor in a State that had a Democratic legislature. If I had gone around the State for the first 4 years of my term announcing that we could not get anything done because I could not work with the Democratic legislature, I think about half the people would have said: Well, maybe we need another Governor. Maybe we need someone who has the capacity to work with people and get results. So I have never understood the strategy that exists--I hope temporarily--on the other side of the aisle of telling the American people the Senate can't function. That does not bring any respect and credit to this body. It does not help the Democrats to say that. It does not help the Republicans. All it does is cause the American people to think that those of us whom they elect are not capable of working together to get a result, when, in fact, as the Senator from Texas said, that is not true. I know for a fact--he cited one example; that is, the bill we passed last December to fix No Child Left Behind. President Obama signed it. He said it was a Christmas miracle. It got 85 votes in the Senate.…”