Political Quotes

“I am going to eventually make a unanimous consent request. We have alerted our Republican friends to it. But before I do, I want to set the stage for why I am going to eventually ask we be allowed to go to H.R. 3630, which is at the desk, and that there be a debate and a vote on the Republican-passed payroll tax cut. For the life of me, I don't understand why, as we approach the end of this year, Republicans do not want, right now, to have a vote on their own bill. Maybe it is because they do not have a lot of votes for it because it is a disaster. The President has spoken out very strongly for a payroll tax cut. We need that. It has been in effect, and if we don't extend it in this time of recovering from a deep dark recession, economists of all stripes have said we are going to see a reduction in economic growth. That is something we don't need right now. Initially, Republicans said they didn't want anything to do with this tax cut. They loved the tax cuts for the millionaires and billionaires. Oh, that one they have a heart for but this one, they don't really like. I think they took the heat back home, and good for the American people. They then decided they had to pass it because if they didn't pass it, working people were going to notice that $1,000 increase in their taxes. So we are facing a very odd situation. Having served in the House for 10 years--I had left before Newt Gingrich became Speaker; I ran for the Senate. I know how things work over there.…”