Political Quotes

“Mr. President, this is indeed a historic moment in the U.S. Senate. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee for more than two decades, I can remember a time when, in fact, 12 different appropriations bills came to the floor of the Senate for consideration. It has been at least 5 years--maybe longer--since we have done that. Instead, we bundled all of the appropriations in one big omnibus bill and handed it over to leadership to decide. We waited for that desperate vote where they said: You have to vote for this; it is take it or leave it. Well, we are back in the stage of due deliberation on appropriations, and I want to commend those who have brought us to this moment. If you asked me at the beginning of this session to pick two Senators--one a Democrat and one a Republican--who could achieve this goal, I would have chosen the two who are here on the floor today, Senator Patty Murray and Senator Susan Collins. They are extraordinary legislators, some of the hardest working people in the U.S. Senate, and they truly have dedication to a national purpose beyond anything that partisan politics might generate. I have seen them at work for years and worked with them together. I can't think of a better team, and I am more than happy to work with them to achieve their goal for 12 appropriation bills considered and passed on the floor of the Senate.…”