John Mica

I may not be the smartest, I may not be the best placed, I may not be the most powerful, but I am a persistent bastard.

I have always made that commitment to labor and will continue that, even as we make the transition.

I do not think that is an unreasonable request.

I have always guaranteed labor people their benefits, anything that is committed to them and maintaining that even in future service.

This is important. We are in a very serious financial situation.

People in this country will use mass transit if it is accessible and convenient.

I want to know how these employees are going to be affected.

I am the strongest advocate for passenger rail in the United States Congress.

I just do not think that is acceptable, either not having a written five year plan at this juncture or a plan for implementation to deal with credit card purchases.

I do not want to get into the details of some of the losses we have experienced in the past.

I thought I would include that for the record.

In contrast, the Canadian passenger railroad employees receive 24 hours of emergency training annually.

It is simply baffling that the IG's report fails to acknowledge that the food and beverage service of the Downeaster... operates at a loss.

I have serious concerns, frankly, with the methodology underlining the controversial privatization proposal.

Sir, can you sit here and tell us that there are not heightened risk of unauthorized access, non-encrypted data, identity theft, and loss of personal identifiable information?

You can't test the system without requirements, so if requirements are coming in late, then obviously you are going to be a little nervous.

First of all, it looks like political decisions got us into this strait.

It is kind of interesting to see, as ObamaCare implodes, how everybody is running for cover.

I think that a lot of our VA employees do so because they believe deeply in serving our veterans, and they do so for all the right reasons.

It pains me greatly to see the administration of the VA caught up in this crap and diminishing the excellent service of those employees at the VA.

It is absolutely outrageous that again, people are sending their money to Washington asking us to be good stewards.

I think that would change your attitude 100 percent, if you know who you work for.

It is disgraceful. It is disgraceful.

I think the American people are sort of fed up with this.

It is pretty offensive to us, to taxpayers and particularly today our veterans.