Political Quotes

“I wasn't able to respond to that last comment from the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). I want to make sure that he knows--and everybody in the House knows--that during the consideration of the rule we passed yesterday, an amendment was offered in the Rules Committee to strip out this executing amendment. That was offered in the Rules Committee and rejected by the Rules Committee in an open vote. Our meetings are on C- SPAN. They are not behind closed doors. Everybody can watch what we do. Then yesterday we came on the floor, and that rule was offered on this floor and there was a full debate. I know; I was here for it. I managed that rule as well. After that full debate, this House voted, and voted by a clear majority to adopt the rule. So we went through a democratic process. We went through an open and clear process, both to consider that particular issue and consider the rule itself, and the House acted its will. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Give me a break. To insinuate that this is somehow all on the level or an open process, I take exception to that characterization. The amendment that the distinguished minority whip was referring to was put into the rule. It was a self-executing amendment so that the majority here did not have an opportunity here to vote up or down on it on its own merits.…”