Political Quotes

“I listened to my colleague from Wyoming. He states it very well. I have come to the floor for roughly the same reason, but I don't know how many times you have to say it, because I think basically what the Senator from Wyoming was saying, and what I want to say is it is very difficult to reach agreements in the Senate. But when you reach an agreement, particularly only if it involves two Senators but particularly if they are leaders of the Senate, a person's word is his bond. That bond ought to be kept--as far as I know, always kept. At least that has been my relationship with fellow Senators. You say you are going to do something and you continue that until it is successful. So here we are, no Senator has not kept their word yet, but we hear this threat. So I come to the floor to give my comments on it. At the beginning of this Congress, the majority and minority leaders reached an agreement as to how to proceed with rules changes. An agreement was reached. We agreed to two rule changes: One change to the standing rules and one to the standing order. Senate Republicans gave up certain rights and protections in those rules changes. That was the first part of the agreement. In exchange for these rules changes, the majority leader gave his word to Republican Senators he would not utilize what is called around here and around this town the ``nuclear option'' and not use it during this Congress.…”