Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I have been in the House and Senate for a number of years. After a while, we detect certain trends. One of the things I am wary of, having seen over the years the abuses associated with it, are these freight train bills that seem as though they are moving so fast, with big majority support--bills that oftentimes will pass one Chamber or the other and come roaring into the other Chamber and maybe pass too quickly and usually with regret. At a later point someone stops and reflects and says: We went too far. We didn't read into this all the things that could occur. We should have taken a little more time because at the end of the day a lot of innocent people suffer. The Senate historically has been the Chamber--I served in the House, but the Senate historically has been the Chamber that has, as George Washington characterized it, been the saucer that cools the tea. As I said, I served in the House of Representatives, and with elections every 2 years, as the Presiding Officer knows, many Members of the House move quickly on issues because here comes another election campaign and Members don't want to miss an opportunity. The Senate, with longer terms and a different set of rules, tries to be more deliberate--sometimes too deliberate, I might add, but at least has that charge under our Constitution.…”