Political Quotes

“let me say in conclusion on this amendment that I have the highest respect for my friend from New Mexico. I often wonder why each year I decide to take on the chairman of the Budget Committee, and the powerful Appropriations Committee, with usually predictable results on the floor of the Senate. He has, much to my consternation, read last year's rollcall, which is another dagger to my heart on this same issue. Notwithstanding that, I am going to soldier on here because, as the Senator from New Mexico does, there are times when you stand up and fight for something you believe in, even if you may not prevail. I still have the highest regard for him and all of my colleagues on the other side of the issue. I respect the fact that many of them have a much more personal knowledge of ranching and livestock operations than I do. When I think about Senator Burns of Montana and all of his years as a rancher and auctioneer, he stared more cows in the eye than I will ever be able to. I listened to my friends, Senator Thomas, Senator Craig, and Senator Domenici. I can readily see that these are men in the Senate who represent areas with many more ranchers and many more livestock operators with much more personal knowledge on this subject, notwithstanding that I come to the floor not trying to preach to them about ranging practices but trying to ask them to at least respect the process of trying to protect our public lands.”