Political Quotes

“I was moved today to hear the comments of a young man from Baltimore at a rally outside here, a Federal employee talking about the hardships that this furlough has placed on him and his young family, and I place the following in the Congressional Record: Like the rest of you who are here today, I am a furloughed Federal Government employee . . . and I am essential. I work for the Health Care Financing Administration in Baltimore, Maryland. At HCFA, I work to assure that all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries receive quality health care. While my fellow furlough workers and I are not at work, millions of beneficiaries run the risk of not receiving quality health care. This is an extremely serious matter. I am here today to explain to President Clinton, Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey and other House Republicans what it means to be on furlough while the Government continues to be shut down. I am not alone. My situation is not unique. This past summer I got engaged to be married. My fiance is a full time graduate student. We knew this year was going to be tough managing on one income. Not this tough. The rent is still due on the 1st of the month. Creditors want their payments. Tuition needs to be paid. Our lives will go on, but not without some serious pain. The furlough not only has affected my state of finances, but also my state of mind. First, our political leaders declare us 'not essential'--an ultimate slap in the face.”