Political Quotes

“My friend from New York is absolutely right. There are 17 bipartisan amendments made in order to this bill that moved through committee in a completely partisan fashion. When we did this bill last time around, the bill that passed on a voice vote because of its bipartisan nature coming out of committee, we made 34 bipartisan amendments in order to improve it further. The now chairman of the Transportation Committee, then the ranking member, said this about the rule as I was presenting it: ``Mr. Speaker, in terms of what the gentleman from Georgia just said, I appreciate the fact that we are debating so many policy amendments. This is the way the process should work, both sides of the aisle contribute, and this is great.'' Stark contrast from what you heard from our ranking member today about the process. At that time, the ranking member, now chairman, said: ``I was willing to stay here later last night and stay here later tonight so that everybody who wanted an amendment could have a chance.'' That is not the process we have this year as voices are shut out one right after another, primarily Republican voices and bipartisan voices. I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), a great conservative leader in our conference who has never been afraid to reach across the aisle to get the work done, and she has done it successfully.”