Political Quotes

“I have a heavy heart about this issue, as I know many of my colleagues do. In fact, I haven't bumped into one of the 432 of us who is enthusiastic about the situation that we are in. I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, one of the things that is most troubling to me is the decision to define success as passing a CR that the Senate is dictating. I don't say that because it is the Senate. My constituency back home doesn't care about CRs. A CR is a continuing resolution, as you know, Mr. Speaker. The only time--the only time--a continuing resolution comes to the floor of this House is when the House has already failed to do the job it was supposed to do. That is passing appropriations bills, Mr. Speaker. That is appropriating through 12 different bills, one step at a time, making those decisions about spending priorities for the Nation. It is fascinating to me, Mr. Speaker, because it has been years-- years--since this House has gone through that process not through any fault of this House, but because we have absolutely no activity on the Senate side. Again, it somehow is getting defined today as if you do things ``piecemeal'' that you are somehow doing something wrong. Again, that is regular order. Doing things one bill at a time is normal. That is what is supposed to happen. You are supposed to make individual decisions on individual bills. Last year, the House passed seven different appropriations bills, Mr.…”