Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the transportation reauthorization bill that passed today. Having served on past transportation bill conference committees, I know the long hours and intense negotiations that were required to prepare this bill for consideration today, and I want to extend my congratulations, appreciation, and respect to Senators Boxer and Inhofe. I know from past experience that they are both principled, tough negotiators, and I am sure that is why the transportation bill returned from conference with so many key provisions intact. In March, the Senate acted in a bipartisan manner to pass a transportation bill that contained significant achievements for our country, and would have greatly benefited my State of Connecticut. The bill would have reduced red tape for transportation projects while still protecting our environment and resources. It included a provision I worked on with my colleague from Delaware, Senator Carper, which would have required cities and States to take air quality goals into account when drafting transportation plans. It also would have provided mass transit benefits the same tax beneficial treatment as parking benefits, and would have funded Connecticut's transportation programs at a level that met our basic needs for the next few years. The bill that came back from conference retained many of these provisions, but I regret to see that it weakened others and discarded some of the rest.…”