Neil Abercrombie: “I find myself discussing this not as a question of partisanship, not as a question of Democrats versus Republicans. I do…”

“I find myself discussing this not as a question of partisanship, not as a question of Democrats versus Republicans. I do not find myself in a position, Mr. Chairman--and I refer again to my good friend, the gentleman from California, and some of the others I have discussed this with--of looking at this even as a question of winners and losers. On the particular issue, I think we are ill-served by this contract. This is not a question of loser pays in regard to clients and lawyers. This is a question of whether we are losing as freedom-loving individuals. Some of my libertarian friends that I have on the other side of the aisle find themselves stumbling for an explanation to me as to how they can be for this. This is the ultimate defense of the individual against the State.”