Political Quotes

“Let me just say if I have provided leadership, I know the Senator from Tennessee has. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with the Senator from Tennessee, Senator Voinovich, Senator Graham of Florida, and others on this issue. I reflect on the role we as Senators are trying to play in this and the disadvantage some of us operate from. The Presiding Officer and I serve on the Banking Committee together. If the issue before us is like the Fair Credit Reporting Act, we have a fairly good idea, using our background and experience, as to what is fair and reasonable; what makes sense and what is good public policy. If the issue is energy policy, I think our background prepares us to make reasonably good judgments there. When we come to issues with respect to the Internet and the transmission of information over the Internet, for a lot of our colleagues--certainly this one--it doesn't take long to get in over our heads. If we are honest, I think most will say that. In order to help us through a difficult issue like the one we have now, whether there should be a continuation of a moratorium on Internet taxes and in what form, and should it be extended, we have bright people who work on our staffs, and we speak to people from the outside, whether they happen to be from the industry or State and local governments, to round out our knowledge. But it is still a different result.…”