Political Quotes

“I wish to add my voice to Chairman McCain's comments a little bit ago about moving forward on the Defense authorization bill. I have the honor of serving with him and Senator Reed, the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee. It is a huge honor, but as Senator McCain mentioned, we also have an enormous obligation and responsibility. The biggest, most important thing we do here is probably our national defense. The chairman asked a really important and simple question: Why? Why are we not taking up the Defense authorization bill at this time? Why is the minority leader moving forward with a filibuster on this important bill that was voted out of committee almost on a complete bipartisan basis? We have an enormous obligation to our troops and to the national defense of our country, and that is what this bill is all about. We can debate it, but we need to begin that debate. My colleague and friend from Arkansas was on the floor here a little bit ago, expressing his frustration about why we are delaying this legislation. I share that frustration, and I share the chairman's frustration. Why? Why are we filibustering? Why is the minority leader filibustering this important bill? I remind my colleagues on the floor that this is actually a pattern. If you remember, at this time last year the minority leader led a filibuster of the Defense appropriations bill. It funds the bill so we can support our troops who are, by the way, overseas in combat.…”