Political Quotes

“What do the legislation regarding the assault-rifle ban and the Clinton tax increase have in common? Two things. Both of them failed. Neither had the requisite number of votes to pass in the allocated 15-minute voting period. But the second thing they have in common is that after the 15 minutes' allowed time ran out, the majority allowed the vote to stay open until enough arms had been twisted, enough pork had been dispensed, enough roads had been promised so that two or three more votes were eked out and both of these pieces of legislation passed. As I went home this weekend, people talked not so much about the assault-rifle bill, because I have folks on both sides of the issue, but what they said is, 'What in the world is Congress doing letting the time run out and then going around twisting arms, taking roll, getting people to swap their votes or to go ahead and vote for the first time?' It is ridiculous. The folks back home understand time periods. They vote in different organizations or elected bodies. Let us play by the rules, Mr. Speaker. If we cannot lead by example, then what good are we to the American people?”