Political Quotes

“Mr. President, the American people are asking: Why can't those guys get together up there and get something done? They are asking: Whatever happened to common sense? They say: People are out of work. Why can't you extend their unemployment benefits? All of this is what the vast majority of the American people are saying. Yet we allowed, over 2 weeks ago, unemployment compensation to cease for certain people hurting in this country. It is important for us now to temporarily extend unemployment benefits, as well as the ability for someone who is out of work to continue their health insurance coverage through what is known as the COBRA program. These important programs expired. We are going to have a procedural vote later today. As is typical in the Senate, we don't get to the actual, substantive vote today. We vote on a motion to proceed, and we have to cut off debate with a motion to cut off debate, called a motion for cloture, just to get to the motion to proceed to get to the bill. But that is what has taken place today. We will get it done. We will use the better part of this week going through all of this parliamentary falderal. When they call the final roll, we will get it extended. But why can't we get together? Why did one Senator, over 2 weeks ago, hold up the whole works on something so obvious? Folks are hurting in most of the country. They certainly are in my State. Over 40 percent of Florida homeowners are under water on their mortgage.…”