Chuck Grassley: “Do you know who held the Senate during that period of time on the issue you brought up? It was Democratic Senators from…”

“Do you know who held the Senate during that period of time on the issue you brought up? It was Democratic Senators from the South. Remember when the Civil Rights Act, in 1965, was passed, that there was a higher share--a higher percentage--of Republicans than Democrats that voted for it. The one person that made a difference in getting the Civil Rights Act passed was Senator Dirksen, the Republican leader. I am going to have to end this discussion with you, but I want to say one thing. Why would you want to expand this precedent that is set by Democrats into legislation and weaken bipartisanship? That is where you have to leave it. It is a slippery slope. You may intend to do it just for a voting rights act, but it is going to go further.”