Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, again, I am always happy. I love the process, and I am a huge believer in the democratic system, but I will tell you that the idea that we are stuck at 26 and we are stuck at 26 forever is not a credible argument because there are other vehicles in the process that would be just as rapid and just as fast if we would get over this idea, this pride of authorship, and if we would all work together on a bipartisan basis to fashion a solution that all veterans can live with. That is incredibly important. For me, this is a starting point, not an ending point. It is important, it seems to me--and I hope to do that by example, Mr. Speaker, that we stay away from the finger-pointing and the blame game--that we not be guilty of the fiery rhetoric I have never understood. As a west Texan, my instinct is always to put fires out. It is never my instinct to add additional fuel. So the partisan fires that rage in this building, it seems to me, need to be put out, and the interest of the American people and, in this case, the American veteran need to be put first and foremost and at the front and center of everything that we are doing. We shouldn't stand and salute the VA, as the chairman has indicated-- I agree with that--but we should stand and salute every single veteran who has served and every single veteran who deserves health care and who doesn't get it. We should apologize, Mr.…”