Political Quotes

“In this measure before us, we have added additional funds and we have put in a provision that if the President will agree to sign a balanced budget amendment that would make the budget balance in 2002, there will be even more money available for what I regard as a high priority, and that is environmental cleanup. My friend from Massachusetts said, ``You are supposed to compromise and negotiate.'' Well, on that matter, I agree with him 100 percent. But let me ask my colleagues, Mr. President, if we are supposed to negotiate and compromise, if we are supposed to come to an agreement with the White House, how do you do it when they do not show up? This Chamber is essentially empty. But this Chamber is just what I have had in attempting to deal with the White House--nobody. I have talked to the Agency head, Administrator Browner. I have talked to Ms. McGinty in the White House, head of the Council for Environmental Quality. I have talked to the Vice President. I have talked to OMB director, Alice Rivlin. I said, ``We want to compromise and work with you to make sure we meet the objectives of the programs funded by this bill.'' We do not have a bill, Mr. President, quite simply, because the President has chosen the political tack. His political advisers say it is far better to veto and throw hot rhetoric than to sit down calmly and negotiate. I hope the time has come when we are ready to negotiate, because I believe we have made great progress in the environment in past years.…”