Political Quotes

“I wish to say a couple of things before I speak to the issue that brought me to the floor today. I have been listening to our leader from Texas talk about so many of the advances we have seen in the Senate this session. I think it is important to acknowledge and note that we are making progress. Often we get labeled in the media for being that ``do-nothing Congress,'' that entity which is just engaged in loggerheads and deadlock. But I think the truth is and the facts on the ground are that we are seeing substantive legislation passed, just as the Senator from Texas has noted. I was pleased to lead off the Senate with the first bill on the floor in this Congress--the Keystone XL Pipeline. It was good to be back at work in a body that was entertaining amendments from both sides and offered by my colleagues without any direction or dictation from the majority side--an opportunity for the give-and-take that comes with not only good debate but not knowing whether your amendment is going to pass or fail. That is how the legislative process works. The occupant of the Chair is a former member of a State body, as am I. We know that is how you build legislation, the good, constructive back-and-forth. We saw that with the Keystone XL debate. We moved that through both bodies. The President chose to veto it. I think it is a mistake on his part. I would like to see us resolve that eventually.…”