Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it's a bittersweet honor to take the podium during this altogether appropriate recognition of House Parliamentarian John Sullivan upon his retirement. I recognize it as bittersweet because it's truly sad for me--and all of us--to see him go, but I'm sure he will enjoy the break from all of us. I'm certain that tonight we'll hear--and we have already heard--his praises sung, particularly for his esteemed career that spanned some two-and-a-half decades. We saw him rise from counsel to assistant, to deputy, to finally the full-fledged Parliamentarian of this special institution. I venture to say that few Members or offices outside the Office of the Rules Committee are able to sing his praises having had quite as much experience as my office has had with him. According to a cursory review, it would appear that during Mr. Sullivan's tenure heading up the left side of the Speaker's dais, I've brought to the floor somewhere in the neighborhood of a couple hundred amendments and privileged resolutions and have filed countless more with the Rules Committee. So it is with some experience that I say that both I and my staff have found the Office of the Parliamentarian, under Mr. Sullivan's leadership, to be fair and open, responsive, deliberative, and consistent. In fact, we've come to rely on it.…”