Political Quotes

“I wish to speak about the main point of the legislation before us, which is the emergency supplemental for the California earthquake. I join my colleague, Senator Boxer, in expressing what is a great concern. That growing concern is twofold. On one hand, within 24 hours, Members are going to be getting on planes and leaving and the bill will not have been passed. There are 30 possible amendments that may be before the Senate in a very short period of time, and I am concerned about that. I am concerned that this bill has become a grab bag for everyone's favorite offset or everyone's favorite cause. I am not commenting on the legitimacy of the amendments, but I am commenting on the fact that the time is short before Members will begin to leave for the scheduled recess. As I look at the amendments, there are amendments pending on Bosnia, amendments pending involving the State Department, health care, so-called pork programs, and so on. In the meantime, there is real concern. The second part of my concern is the fact that before we leave, not only the legislation has to pass, but a conference must take place. I think perhaps Members really might not realize the seriousness of the problem, with the emergency assistance and public assistance parts of FEMA due to run out within a week. What will happen if the money does run out is that what we will see is State pitted against State.”