Political Quotes

“I would like to thank my colleague from Connecticut for his remarks tonight and for the hopefulness that he has expressed. I have been here now for 11 years, and I can't predict success here, and I can't say it is assured, but I think it is very likely that we are going to come together in a deal. I hope we come together in that deal today, and I think the American people are going to be able to assess the progress that has been made for workers as a result of taking a little bit of extra time, for hospitals as a result of a little extra time, for State and local governments that are going to benefit mightily because of the work we have done. I rise tonight not to get into this back-and-forth about this because I think we are going to address it, and I think we are going to address it in a way that is meaningful and in a way that is bipartisan and in a way that can help give the American people a measure of confidence that we are doing our job. For those of you who have heard me over the years on this floor, I don't always come here with a report that optimistic. But tonight, given everything I have heard over the course of the day, I want to say that this is a serious problem. It is an unprecedented challenge.…”