Political Quotes

“The reason I asked for order is because this amendment affects each and every one of you and your constituents. The McCain amendment says to the States that they cannot use a certain section of the transportation bill for several things, including scenic or historic highway programs, including tourist centers, landscaping, or scenic beautification, historic preservation, and it goes on. The point I want to make is this amendment is opposed by the National Association of Counties, the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials, the National League of Cities, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the U.S. Travel Association. That is a nonpartisan list, and let me tell you why. The way this amendment is drafted, historic bridges could never even be repaired. The Brooklyn Bridge or other historic bridges could not be repaired and we could not control erosion. We would have major problems. I move to table the McCain amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. That motion is not in order while time is remaining. The Senator from Arizona has 1 minute. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I have made the argument that these projects are unnecessary. We have tens of thousands of bridges that are deficient. We need to spend the money where it should be spent, and I hope my colleagues will understand that this might have been appropriate some time ago, but in this day and age, with our crumbling infrastructure, we need to put the money in the right place.…”