Political Quotes

“I thank Mr. Van Hollen. Well, where do we start? Clearly, there is a feeling this is more than an anticlimax. You know, we should have a debt ceiling bill before us. Why don't we have that? We haven't acted on Medicare part B premiums. They are right before us. Instead, we are doing this. The highway trust fund faces a deadline. Where is it? Where is our legislation? Tax extenders actually expired much, much earlier. Where is the legislation? So, instead, because the Republican Conference is essentially mostly fighting itself, this institution is handcuffed on these issues. So the decision is pass a reconciliation bill and get a bill to the President to veto because, so far, 60 or 61 efforts have never been able to get to the President for a veto. Well, I think this is a waste of time when there are other issues, because the President has also said he will veto. So what is this really all about? I think this is all a prelude, as was the so-called prioritization bill yesterday and, I think, also the Benghazi hearing yesterday, so- called hearing, this is all an effort to try to lay a foundation so that next week we will take up a debt ceiling bill, and it will pass with a majority of Democrats and some Republicans, some of whom maybe are made to feel better because we are going through the motions here today. I just want to conclude talking about going through the motions.…”