Political Quotes

“If the minority leader would yield for a question, as the Senator well knows, the intelligence community depends upon the Defense authorization bill for the authorization to operate in the intelligence community. Whether it is the budget or policy, all of that is compromised in the majority leader's refusal to bring this bill to the floor. Without the authorities in the respective intelligence bills that are passed by the House and the Senate, then our Intelligence Committee is handicapped and hamstrung in policies that are needed as we move forward in this ever-changing war on terrorism. I would ask the Senator from Kentucky if he has ever, in his long experience in the Senate, seen any bill of this nature held up and not allowed to come to the floor because of any single Senator's refusal to accept the provisions that are in the bill by an overwhelming vote such as this? Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I am not sure who has the floor, but I would say, in response to my friend from Georgia---- Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I say to the Senator, we have unanimous consent for a colloquy. Mr. McCONNELL. There may have been examples, but I am hard pressed to think of one recently. The tradition of passing the Defense authorization bill is there for a good reason. The national defense of the United States is the most important thing the Federal Government does.…”