Political Quotes

“I point out, one of the issues raised is whether or not there will be an adequate amount in the authorization to meet all of the demands not only of grants but also the minimum requirements in the bill. I inform my colleagues that number is not selected out of thin air. We went and asked the Congressional Budget Office and others to give us an analysis of what would be needed if every single State in the country wanted to completely change their voting systems, what would be the ballpark figure if that would occur--not that anyone would believe that is going to be the case. Many people are very satisfied with the election equipment they have and feel no need to change it at all. But the number we have incorporated in the bill works on the maximum extent; that is, all jurisdictions in every single State wanting to replace every voting system. If that were to occur, we would reach the number that is in the authorization of this bill. So we are more than satisfied that the number we have identified as an authorizing figure would accommodate virtually every jurisdiction in the country should they so desire to exchange their present equipment. Nothing in this bill mandates that to occur at all, as we have repeated over and over. Again, we believe very strongly that States ought to be allowed to decide what works best for them.”