Political Quotes

“Madam President, in California, we are already seeing layoffs because the department of transportation had to lay off and furlough--they furloughed, temporarily I trust--2,000 Federal inspectors who are overseeing in 17 of our States a number of important projects; for example, in Alaska, the Tongass National Forest road cleanup. Another project in Arizona is the Coronado National Monument main park entrance. In Arkansas, there is a shutdown. In California, there is the Sequoia National Park main entrance, the Southfork Smith River, and Golden Gate National Recreation Area road construction. In DC, there is the 9th Street Bridge replacement. One Senator is stopping these important construction projects. They are crucial safety projects that have been stopped in their tracks because one Senator has decided that it is his way or the highway. We have to stop bringing this Senate to paralysis. We all have our opinions. I have mine and I know the Senator from Montana has his and the Senator from New York has his and the Senator from Michigan has hers; and we think we are right and we make our case. Once we have argued our cases, the will of the Senate has to go forward. Senator Bunning doesn't seem to think it is an emergency that the highway trust fund has run out of funds. He doesn't think it is an emergency that there are long-term jobless Americans. He doesn't agree. He doesn't agree that it is an emergency, I gather, that people cannot pay for their health care extension.…”