Political Quotes

“Mr. President, first, I thank Senator Stabenow for her tenacity and her efforts. I join them with a full heart at a very sad moment when we see an unconscionable Republican filibuster succeed again today against the extension of unemployment benefits and the other parts of this American jobs bill. I asked Senator Whitehouse if he would yield to me for a moment. He was on the floor before me. I will not take advantage of his good nature and good grace other than to say we are not going to abandon this effort. We are going to proceed with every tool we have at our disposal to make sure people who desperately need the extension of these benefits are protected, as intended by this program. The financial crisis and resulting recession that continue to trouble our Nation have called for sustained action on the part of the Congress. From passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act to the Wall Street reform legislation now taking its final shape, we have sought to reduce the harm this recession has caused our fellow citizens. Passage of the legislation that we were denied the chance to consider today would have been another significant step in fulfilling that task. The legislation we failed to take up would extend unemployment benefits through November of this year.…”