Political Quotes

“If I could yield my time to the gentlelady from the District of Columbia, she would probably say these words better than I can. But Eleanor, thank you; thank you for your impassioned speech. Mr. Speaker, the District of Columbia is different. Every Member, who in just a few minutes will vote on this piece of legislation, has the right to vote because we are from States. And every State in the Union is continuing to collect revenue and spend it as we fiddle. Here in the District of Columbia, it is different. The District of Columbia is the only place here in the United States in which full citizens--undeniably citizens of the United States, with every right and privilege, including voting in every Presidential election--find themselves shut down if we don't pass a budget, if we don't pass appropriations. Now, I heard the gentleman from New York, regrettably, lump in this bill with his opinion as though all three were the same. First of all, this is not a Tea Party bill. This is a bill inspired by both the majority and minority, under Ms. Norton's leadership, to come up with a solution similar to what we came up with 17 years ago for the District. This is also inspired by a similar bill that is sitting in the Senate that wants to accomplish the same thing. This is not Tea Party. As a matter of fact, the easiest thing to do, if you want to be strident, would be in fact to shut down the District.…”