Political Quotes

“I certainly agree with my friend from Massachusetts that folks ought to know what they are talking about before they come and vote on amendments. In fact, I think folks ought to know what they talk about when they even come down and talk about amendments. I think that ought to be part of the thing. There is no point of order to stipulate that, but I believe it is an important provision. I serve on the Transportation Committee, Mr. Speaker. So I have a vested interest in this. I have kind of a pride of authorship. We worked very hard on this. In my friend from Massachusetts' opening statement, he thanked the chairman and the ranking member of the full committee and of the subcommittee. They call them the Big Four on that committee, Mr. Speaker, the Big Four. If you can get the Big Four to have an agreement, then you feel like you can get your amendment across the finish line because being a committee chairman means something. {time} 1315 Among the many amendments that we considered in committee were truck weight amendments, Mr. Speaker. I know this because I serve on that committee. Did you know, today, Mr. Speaker, that we have first responder vehicles--fire trucks, for example--that are prohibited from getting on Federal highways because of this system?…”