Political Quotes

“The gentleman is quite correct about the nature of the shutdown and the impact that it has on Americans. Can I be optimistic and encourage him to figure out how to stop these from ever happening again? And when he grows a very gray head of hair and a gray beard, perhaps he will have figured it out. It just hasn't happened. I was around for the 1995 shutdown. I was the Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Interior, number two, and that massive Department which I spoke of earlier, the parks, the Fish and Wildlife services, all of those organizations--gone. At that time, we did not have the requirement that essential services would be provided; there was just nobody working. And that went on for, I think, 23 days, which until this week was the longest. It was a long time ago, and here we are once again and in between. I think there are ways. I notice many of my colleagues on the Republican side are here, will soon have the opportunity to take the floor and will probably debate many of the points or disagree with many of the points that I have made earlier today. I saw a few jaws clenching, biting down on their teeth, just wanting to get in the mix of it. Mr. MEADOWS asked for time, and I didn't really want to hear that, but the gentleman will have time in just a moment.…”