Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I don't speak often on the floor, but it seems that whenever I do, you are the Presiding Officer. I have said this before, but you are a glutton for punishment. I thank you for your willingness to show up day after day. I was going to talk a little bit about the Affordable Care Act as it relates to Congressman Price, who has been nominated to be Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services. Before I do, I want to follow up on the comments of my friend Senator John Barrasso, who is the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee on which we both serve. He is the senior Republican, and I am pleased and really privileged to be the senior Democrat alongside him. What I would just say in response is--if Senator Schumer were here, he would be perfectly capable of thinking for himself and defending himself, but I would say this: On the question of whether Judge Gorsuch will have a hearing, I think he will have a hearing, and he should have a hearing. On the question of whether there will be a 60-vote margin--the last couple of people who have been confirmed for the Supreme Court, both Democrats, were confirmed by more than 60 votes. I don't know Judge Gorsuch well, but I do know Merrick Garland pretty well, and I must say I am disappointed that he never got a hearing, although he was nominated by Barack Obama when there was almost 10 months remaining in President Obama's term.…”