Tom Harkin actually said...

"I have always been a very strong proponent of what has been called earmarks."

"Earlier in my statement, I mentioned that Social Security is one of the most successful Government programs ever created, and the reason for that is we keep the elderly out of poverty."

"we have an obligation to meet, and we are going to do everything we can to meet that obligation."

"But to cut the budget by taking job opportunities away from the poorest Iowans is bad math and in some ways just plain mean."