Dick Durbin: “I would like to say a word in response from the Democratic side. First, I cannot think of two colleagues I admire more…”

“I would like to say a word in response from the Democratic side. First, I cannot think of two colleagues I admire more than Senator Alexander and Senator Feinstein. They are honorable people. It has been a pleasure to work with them and even to consider issues where we opposed one another because I knew it would be done in a professional and courteous way. They have spent more hours than I can calculate constructing one of the most important appropriations bills--the Energy and Water appropriations bill. This bill was brought to the floor first by Senator McConnell for good reason. We wanted to set a template, a model, for finishing the appropriations process, and I respect that. I have been honored to serve on the House Committee on Appropriations and now on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and I think it is a very important assignment. It has been many years since we have done our work in the way it was supposed to be done. Without a budget resolution, we took the budget agreement, moved forward with the bills. There were countless opportunities for the minority, the Democrats, to slow down this process, to make it more difficult, to make it more complicated, and to demand votes and delays of 30 hours after 30 hours. We did not do that because we were trying to be positive and constructive.…”