Kendrick Meek: “this is an issue that whenever it comes to the floor, I always speak out. And my reasoning is quite a bit different from…”

“this is an issue that whenever it comes to the floor, I always speak out. And my reasoning is quite a bit different from any of my colleagues. I have a tremendous respect for the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Durbin], and whatever he says is correct. I do not disagree with him, nor do I disagree with any of the others who spoke for this amendment. But I am against this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I must ask my colleagues not to support it, and I will tell them why. First of all, if I thought the Durbin amendment would reduce or stop smoking, I would vote for it and get other people to vote for it. But the Durbin amendment will not stop smoking and it will not reduce smoking at all. Philosophically or morally, it is excellent. I wish we could legislate morals and keep people from doing things that would kill them. I wish we had that power. If we had the power in this Congress to legislate initiatives that would stop people from doing things which kill them, we would do a marvelous job, and I appreciate anyone trying to do it. Mr. Chairman, I remember when my father used to pull tobacco over there in Quincy in Monticello, FL. That is the only place my daddy could get a job. I am from Tallahassee, FL. During those days, black Americans could not get a job in north Florida doing anything, but he was able to go on to this farmer industry and get a job. They did not ask him if he came from Carroll's Quarters. They did not ask him anything. I will never forget that.…”