Political Quotes

“Madam President, I was not intending to speak because I was hopeful that tonight we would have a simple vote that would move us to debate on a bill that I think people have been waiting for, for a long time, and that is getting reform to our banking institutions and financial institutions. I will say for those who are watching and listening, I am new here. I have been here a little over a year, and I am trying to understand all of the process. But one thing I have learned is this great motion called a motion to proceed--a lot of people watch and see us vote and think, oh, the bill has gone down. This motion was a very simple motion. It allowed us to move to the bill so we can debate. What I have heard over the last several weeks and literally the last 48 hours is the desire for people to add amendments and talk about it and do all of the things we want to do and to have full debate on the floor. But because of this simple motion that the Senate requires, which I think is kind of a foolish motion-- that is my personal opinion--this motion to proceed, we are not even allowed now to debate this bill and offer amendments to this very important financial reform legislation. So I am disappointed. I am disappointed for us as a body that we can't move forward.…”