Political Quotes

“Mr. President, in 1 minute or less, I thank the occupant of the Chair very much for his strong cosponsorship of this bill, along with other colleagues. Basically, we are saying that if we fail to keep this government open, or to lift the debt ceiling, we Members of Congress should not receive our pay. It is pretty straightforward. I thank Senator Coburn. He had objected earlier. He backed off of his objection. He will make his own case for the Record. He is making the case that Federal employees, such as nurses, or Superfund cleanup workers, or Border Patrol agents never get 1 penny of reimbursement or back pay. I think that is, in essence, unfair, if we have a government shutdown, to put it on the backs of the middle-class people who don't want to stay home; they want to work. I am glad he is allowing this to move forward. We certainly will now ask our friends on the other side of the Capitol and Speaker Boehner to take this bill up post haste and get it going. Let's avoid a shutdown but make it clear that if there is one, we are going to take our lumps just like other Federal workers. I hope this will help avert a shutdown. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Jersey. ____________________”