Political Quotes

“I thank the chairman very much for yielding. As I listen to the debate and the discussion and as I listen to my colleague from Wisconsin talk about universal access, I am reminded of something that I read relative to the period of not just dissent but a takeover of Germany. I remember something that a rabbi said: They came for the Communists. I was not a Communist. They came for the Socialists. I was not a Socialist. Then they came for me, and nobody was left. It seems to me that, when we go after those individuals who are the most vulnerable people in our society and when we categorize and stereotype and make believe that if they get a card that they're going to be at the casino and that they're going to be at the strip joint, well, I can tell you that the people I know who get cards as TANF recipients are not usually found at a casino, and they're not found at a strip joint. As a matter of fact, if I thought that this legislation would provide one iota--one scintilla--of help for TANF recipients, I would be the first in line to support it. The reality is I don't believe it provides any help and that it does not provide any assistance, and I will certainly not be voting for it. All lawmakers agree that we should limit waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. We all agree that government assistance should be used for basic necessities, such as shelter and food.…”