Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I would be happy to go on as a cosponsor to Senator Collins if she wants to take on the additional burden of moving this idea forward. I don't have any problem with it. The point is, I am here--and I have been very open about it because I know what I am talking about when it comes to Members of Congress, because as chair of the Ethics Committee, I don't oversee Treasury. This is not my role, this is not my expertise, and I am very humble about that. I did see what happened here, along with, I would say, every member of the Ethics Committee and Senator Isakson. This is a bipartisan amendment and we know what we are talking about, and we are saying there was a problem and Members of Congress were courted by Countrywide. Did they court other people? I don't know. But if there is some proof that they did and there is need to go and cover them with a similar amendment, I would be happy to work with my colleague on that. But I am not going to change this particular piece of legislation, because I know what I am talking about here. I know how to fix this. I know we have made a big mistake, and I feel it is our job to clean up our own business. And our own business, when it comes to this, is not good. Would I wish to look over at what the Bush administration did or what the Obama administration is doing or what other administrations will do? I am happy to do that. But I am here to address our house--our house. Clean it up. Act as a role model.…”