Political Quotes

“I appreciate the comments of the gentleman from Maryland. He wasn't on the floor when I spoke earlier. Perhaps he didn't hear that, between the Committee on Armed Services and on this floor, 429 amendments have been made in order--181 for this floor alone. That is an open process, and it is a far more open process than what this House saw when other people were in charge. This is the process that the American people have a right to expect, and they are getting exactly what they were told they were going to get. Mr. Speaker, the provision that he is referring to, a provision regarding including women in the draft, was, in fact, offered in the middle of the night without there being any hearings in the Committee on Armed Services, without there being any notice to the American people. There wasn't an adequate hearing; there wasn't an adequate opportunity for everybody to be heard. So the decision was made that the better way to do it, if we are going to consider it--and it probably is something we need to consider at some time--is to do it through a regular committee process, where we notice it to the American people, where we have hearings, and when people can be heard. Then we can have a full and honest debate with the American people having had a chance to weigh in. I disagree with the gentleman from Maryland. I think this is exactly the appropriate process.…”