Paul Coverdell: “Mr. President, this is the definition of ``pettiness.'' This is demeaning. The concept that we would honor a former…”

“Mr. President, this is the definition of ``pettiness.'' This is demeaning. The concept that we would honor a former President, but we have to extract a price. A memorandum went out to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that wanted an IRS reformation amendment tacked to this legislation. The idea that ``You can have this memorial, but only if we extract something from it, too.'' Maybe this is an indication of just how cynical this city has become from top to bottom. I have great respect for the minority leader. I consider him a very good friend. But who would counsel him to suggest ``We haven't heard from the Reagan family''? What are they supposed to do, buy tickets and fly over here and lobby outside the Chamber? Is that what you would ask of them to do? The other gentlemen on the list that I have heard that you perhaps would choose to honor, so be it. Honor them. Come forward with these ideas, but not as a quid pro quo to a memorial to this former President. Do you remember the memorial to the late President Franklin Roosevelt? Was there some skirmish over there? Did there have to be some ratification or some affidavit from their family as to whether or not it ought to be built and how?”