Political Quotes

“I told you when we started this debate, Mr. Speaker, you were going to hear some passion from my friend from Massachusetts because he is, in fact, passionate. He is a public servant, and he serves his constituency well. But I want to read to you from Politico, one of our Washington, D.C., newspapers, that follows what goes on here in politics. I don't sit on the Agriculture Committee, as my friend from Massachusetts does, but Politico reported this, as talks around the farm bill broke down in March: Bipartisan negotiations over the farm bill stopped-- There were bipartisan negotiations. Those negotiations stopped, Mr. Speaker. Thursday afternoon, after House Agriculture Committee ranking member Collin Peterson-- The ranking Democrat. --faced pressure from fellow Democrats, who complained that discussions about changes to the food stamp program were being kept secret. My friend from Massachusetts mentioned that. I have that same frustration on committees that I serve, Mr. Speaker. Very often, the chairman of the committee, who is a Republican, and the ranking member, who is a Democrat, and their subcommittee chairmen very often they get together and have negotiations before rank-and-file Members get involved. It happens, and I am frustrated about it, and my friend from Massachusetts is frustrated about it. The development-- Politico goes on to say.…”