Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from West Virginia. Bribery, corruption, and fraud, throughout my tenure as a State and Federal prosecutor, I saw all of these evils and more. I am disappointed to say that the words I once used to describe white-collar criminals can now be used to define a federally funded entity. The Export-Import Bank, or, as some know it, the Ex-Im Bank, has taken advantage of our free market system. An institution that once stood for economic growth, prosperity, and global expansion now stands as a symbol of greed, a pillar of crony capitalism. It does not take a trained eye to see that the Ex-Im Bank is exactly what is wrong with Washington today. This 80-year-old institution we once trusted to expand our ``Made in America'' brand to every corner of the globe has failed to live up to its charter and has, instead, morphed into something else. The Bank does not maintain or create jobs. It does not support small businesses as much as its supporters would like you to think. It does not level the playing field for U.S. exporters. It is not even a good deal for taxpayers. The Ex-Im Bank has become more like a train with no conductor at the helm, running faster and faster, heading straight off the tracks. As so often happens when accountability is slim and punishment is nonexistent, the Ex-Im Bank has become a breeding ground for corruption, cronyism, and fraud. If you think I am wrong, even President Obama agreed with me back in 2008.…”