Political Quotes

“on the matter that was being discussed--I am on the Finance Committee. There has not been a hearing on this bill, not a single hearing. A markup is not a hearing. People might say, well, why is that a big deal? Why is that relevant? Because a hearing is an opportunity for the American people to say whether they want this bill or not. A hearing is an opportunity for an economist to come to the Senate and say whether they want this bill. A markup is a chance for Senators to say what is on their mind, not for the American people to be able to say what is on their mind. That is what I am thinking about today. I wanted to start my remarks with a little bit of a history lesson because this Chamber seems to forget what it has said, where it has been, and it is only if you have a case of terrible amnesia that you can support this legislation. When Bill Clinton left the White House, he left his successor a projected surplus of $5.6 trillion. That is what George Bush inherited when he became President. The Senate was actually having hearings about what to do with the surplus and whether that surplus constituted some sort of threat to the economy. That is what he left behind. Then, George Bush, with this Congress, cut taxes in 2001. They didn't pay for those tax cuts. They didn't need to because they would pay for themselves. That is what they said. It is exactly what they are saying today. It is exactly what they are saying today.…”