Political Quotes

“I rise today to speak about longstanding rules of procedures and traditions of the Senate. I have watched with interest over the past few weeks as members of the majority have continued to threaten to break the Senate rules in order to impose a majority rule at the expense of minority rights. We continue to hear threats of the nuclear option by which the majority would break the rules to change the rules. Despite past assurances from the majority that rules changes would only occur through regular order, they continue to threaten the exact opposite. Make no mistake, this is not some inside-the-beltway squabble over parliamentary procedure. The longstanding rules allowing for unlimited debate and amendment protect every American whose voice is represented by the minority in the Senate. These protections are especially important for Americans who live in rural and less populated States. That would include my home State of Nebraska. The Constitution specifically designed the Senate to function in a manner that was very different and very distinct from the House of Representatives. The threat of the nuclear option clearly abandons this intent.…”