Political Quotes

“I will conclude my inquiries, if I may, sir, by asking whether this is a unique or even unusual parliamentary situation? Because it seems to me, Mr. Speaker, that so far in the 104th Congress, we are in this situation on almost every rule we have considered. On the unfunded mandates bill, a parliamentary inquiry established the committee report was defective, and the rule had not waived the point of order. On the balanced budget joint resolution, the rule, as reported, also failed to include the proper waivers to cover another defective report. When we pointed this out, the rule was amended on the floor. The rule on the Taos Pueblo Indian land transfer bill also did not waive the necessary points of order to fix a defective report. In addition, the rule did not allow for instructions in the motion to recommit, violating clause 4(b), rule XI. The point of order on the rule was not pressed when the majority agreed to amend the rule on the floor, and the rule on the Butte County land conveyance bill did not contain the waiver made necessary because the bill was reported out of the Committee on Resources without a quorum being present. Here again, we are having passed a rule that failed to waive the necessary points of order to protect a defective report.”