Political Quotes

“You are never sure what is going to happen the next day around here, so I am not sure if this is the last time you will be presenting a bill--something could come up next week--but let me assume that it is for just a moment and speak on a personal basis if I might. I hope the speaker won't cut me off. You are not supposed to talk to each other, so I will try to speak to you while I speak to the chair. I will try to do both. Around here we can question each other's positions. In a sense, that is why we are here. Dave Camp leaves here having participated in a discussion of substance and questioning each other's positions in a way to try to come forth with legislation. But I think, in a rather unique way, our chairman has been able to do that with complete integrity, with complete seriousness--now and then a sense of humor, but complete seriousness--and the ability to question within a framework of some friendship. So if this is your last management of a bill, I simply want to say for myself and, more importantly, I think, for this institution, if I might, that your decision to leave here means that you are leaving with your head so high and with, I hope, a feeling of real accomplishment and complete integrity and seriousness about your work. I am sure that your constituents are very proud to have voted for you 12 times. That was a commendable dozen.…”