Political Quotes

“Not a bit. It suggested to me, I say to the Senator from Nevada, coming back to this bill, when we go to the merits of this debate, let's be very honest about what this concerns. This is a question about moving some 150,000 or 170,000 employees of the Federal Government under a new roof called the Department of Homeland Security. I support it. I supported it when Senator Lieberman offered it. I supported it when the President suggested it. I still support it. But the question before us today is, for 40,000 or 50,000 of these employees, when they come under that new roof, will they bring with them collective bargaining rights that they have had, have earned, have worked for, perhaps, all of their adult lives? There are those who argue--and you have heard it from the Senator from Texas--once they come into this new Department, we can't afford to run the risk that someone who belongs to a labor union can really rise to the challenge of defending America. Pardon me, Madam President. Do I recall correctly those profiles in courage of September 11, 2001, of which so many of us are so proud? Did you stop and think for a moment that those New York firefighters, going up those stairs in those burning buildings to rescue people did not know--complete strangers--doing their duty to their country, meeting the duty of their profession--did we stop and reflect, for a moment, that they were carrying, perhaps in their wallet, next to the picture of their family, a union card?”