Political Quotes

“If the majority whip will continue to yield, the purpose of this unanimous consent request was to make it clear on the record what I personally believed would occur when my colleague from the State of Illinois objected. There were some who said that would not happen, that once this bill had been reported from the committee, had gone through the regular order, with two hearings before the Senate Commerce Committee, on which my colleague from Illinois serves, a hearing both in Chicago as well as in Washington, when ample opportunity had been given both sides to present their point of view, when amendments were considered and offered by my colleague from Illinois, when the final vote on the committee was a substantial bipartisan vote of 19 to 4, it was the belief--and I am sorry to say the mistaken belief--of some of my colleagues in the Senate that my colleague from Illinois would accept a debate on this issue and would accept the consequences, up or down. Apparently that is not to be the case. It leads us in a position, today, where those colleagues on the floor who have any doubt in their mind should have it dispelled. The objection by the Senator from Illinois makes it clear that he is prepared to delay this as long as possible. The Senator from Nevada has put his finger on the issue. What is at stake is the safety of O'Hare, the world's busiest airport. What is at stake is the efficiency of that airport.…”