Political Quotes

“I wish to speak to the Bond amendment, not the Robb amendment. The Bond amendment is another one of these legislative riders on spending bills. It is an attempt to change environmental policy with an amendment to the appropriations bill for the Department of the Interior. The reason it is being done this way, of course, is it avoids any committee hearing, any opportunity for any witnesses or public input. There are seven, eight, or nine different environmental riders that have been attached to this spending bill. The administration has indicated that unless they are removed, there is a strong likelihood that an otherwise good bill will be vetoed by the President because riders, such as the one I am about to address, go way too far. One might wonder why I am addressing the issue of a national forest in Missouri since I represent the State of Illinois. I am from downstate Illinois. I was born in East St. Louis, and the Ozarks are an important recreational area for everyone who lives in the region. It is not only a regional treasure but a national treasure which has been recognized by a designation as a national forest.”