Political Quotes

“We have a long and proud history in this House, but it is sometimes tough to remember exactly how that history goes, Mr. Speaker. {time} 1330 My friend from New York has her picture up on the wall in the Rules Committee room. If you haven't been up there, Mr. Speaker, you should go see it. My friend from New York is the first woman to have ever led the United States House of Representatives Rules Committee. She led it ably and proudly for the 4 years that the Democrats were in the majority the last decade. It is a hard job because, as the chairman of the Rules Committee or the chairwoman of the Rules Committee, you have to make decisions. When the bills come to you from the committees of jurisdiction--the authorizing committees--you often have to completely reorganize those bills. You have to meld those bills together. It is a powerful committee because it has a solemn responsibility. Yes, in the area of Rules Committee jurisdiction and the melding of all of those pieces of legislation is what amendments get added and what amendments get taken away. My friend from California (Ms. Lee), has an absolutely legitimate gripe, as does my friend from Virginia (Mr. Scott). Mr. Speaker, we all think our amendments are the greatest amendments to be known. Mr. Scott led, to his credit, with saying: I am glad so many of my amendments were made in order, but I am appalled my one amendment was kept out.…”