Political Quotes

“a lot of us on the Congressional Black Caucus and a lot of us who sit on this side of the aisle are used to being called ``tax and spend liberals.'' It is a mantra that our friends on the other side throw around a lot. I do not know about the gentleman from Maryland, but if it makes you a liberal to stand for full funding for No Child Left Behind, and if it makes you a liberal to stand up for a revitalized Federal commitment to Medicaid, if it makes you a liberal to care about the plight of some of our children and some people who are living in public housing, I know some of us who are willing to wear that tag. We hear a lot of talk during this debate about the tough choices that the Republican majority want to make. I have heard a lot of speakers come to the well of this House and say, we have to be courageous, we have to make these tough spending cuts. I do not think it is courageous, I say to the gentleman, to cut $5 billion over the next 5 years in income subsistence programs at a time when so many children are falling back into poverty. I do not think it is courageous to cut $1 billion from Medicaid when States like my State and the gentleman's State are struggling to draw down the limited Federal dollars that are available. I do not think it is courageous to pare back benefits for veterans. I am so tired, as I know the gentleman from Maryland is, of what is cold blooded being passed off as courageous on the floor of this House.”