Political Quotes

“It would seem to me, Mr. President, that as we look at 30 possible remaining amendments to this bill, at 10 minutes after the noon hour, I know for a fact that within 24 hours Members are booked on planes to return to their districts. This bill may not be passed, and the conference will not have taken place. Then we go away for 10 days and we come back, and FEMA will effectively have run out of money. They will begin making judgments between one State disaster and another as to which has the highest priority for funding. And FEMA has said they will fund emergency relief prior to public assistance relief. I do not think we want to be in this situation. I certainly do not want to be in this situation. I know this is a large supplemental and I regret it. The damage is commensurately large. I think it is our duty to come to grips with this bill and to make a decision. I am hopeful that Members that have amendments will recognize the shortness of time before their colleagues embark on planes to return to their districts and that we might be able to conclude this business today. It is really important. It is important not only to the people of California, it is important to the flood plain areas in the Midwest and many other States as well. Just in conclusion, it obviously is legitimate to have a discussion of whether a supplemental item is of an emergency nature or not. I think that is a legitimate debate. I know under the rules of this Senate anything is legitimate in debate.”