Political Quotes

“Madam President, after 6\1/2\ months it appears the Congress may finally be able to finish the fiscal year 2011 appropriations process. Earlier today the House passed a Department of Defense Appropriations bill which includes an extension of the current continuing resolution through the end of the fiscal year. If the Senate passes this legislation and the President signs it, we will be able to close the books on this issue and focus our attention on the budget for fiscal year 2012. In reflecting upon how we got here, I wish to point out to my colleagues that the fundamental reason we find ourselves debating a continuing resolution today is because 1 year ago the Congress was unable to agree upon a budget resolution. The failure to reach a consensus agreement on the budget meant the Appropriations Committee was asked to resolve the differences in spending itself. After months of attempting to do so, the committee was unable to bridge the gap between the Republicans and Democrats. When the committee finally adopted a funding level proposed by the Republicans, a hostile political environment crippled the committee's efforts to enact a bipartisan budget plan. As we go forward I would ask all of my colleagues to think carefully about this, and I urge everyone to cooperate both here in the Senate and with our colleagues in the House.…”