Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I have been listening to colleagues speak about the importance of having a very open process here where we can offer our amendments and make this fast-track a better deal for the middle class and for jobs in our Nation. It is rather shocking to recognize that this huge agreement, which is going to cover 40 percent of trade in this world, is being jammed down our throats in a couple of days. It is ridiculous. When we look at other agreements, they have had far more time. We have well over 100 amendments filed and we have been offered 6 amendments. I know the Senator from Washington has laid down the gauntlet on the Ex-Im Bank. I support her. We have differing views on the underlying bill, but I think she is right because it is really hard to imagine passing this huge bill and then ignoring the fact that Ex-Im Bank is going to go away. To me, as chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, recognizing that the entire highway bill is ending--the entire highway program is ending on May 31--to take up this bill without taking care of that is absurd. To take up this bill before raising the minimum wage is ridiculous. To take up this bill before we make sure we have comprehensive immigration reform so workers can come out of the shadows is just the height of insanity. To take up this bill before we have taken up the Ex-Im Bank, as I know my friend from Washington has explained, is absurd.…”