Political Quotes

“I rise tonight, as so many of my colleagues have through this long day, to urge all of us to join to prevent a government shutdown. We have all expressed a growing amount of frustration here with what I would characterize as politics as usual under the dome of this great Capitol, in which we are so fortunate to serve. But it sure seems like these are the kind of politics where the goal posts get continually moved, and no amount of civility can seemingly overcome the impasse that is unfolding down the corridors in the House of Representatives. I know the Presiding Officer operates in this way, and the American public operates in this way, and they expect us to work together. They expect us to pass an appropriations bill that funds our government. But it appears as though some unrelated policy riders that are not about appropriating money but are about setting policy are leading to an impasse that could lead to an unnecessary and costly shutdown of government operations and services. Last night--I do not know where the Presiding Officer was--my colleague Senator Bennet was down here. He highlighted how petty the situation has become. He pointed out if you and I went to Applebee's for dinner tonight, and we had a $20 dinner for two, and then we had a fight over the bill, we would be fighting over 4 cents. Well, I have some news.…”