Political Quotes

“First, let me thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I know they are conscientious and committed to our national defense and security and to the men and women who make it possible. I have listened to their speeches on the floor, and but for some political analyses, I would agree with their motives to make sure we adequately and promptly fund the defense of our country. There is no question about it. Secondly, I might say that I know a little bit about this bill. I am the ranking Democrat on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and in the previous Congress I served as chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. And I am lucky because I have by my side a Republican Senator, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, who currently chairs the committee. I can tell you that from start to finish, Thad Cochran, Republican, and Dick Durbin, Democrat, have agreed on this bill and what is included in this bill. We have worked it out to the satisfaction of not only our own staff and the people we worked with but with the Pentagon as well. We have put together a very good, solid, defensible bill, and the point my colleague made demonstrates that. When it was called on in the full Appropriations Committee, there was unanimous support for it. Within the four corners of the bill, there is no controversy. The only question before us now is when it will be called for passage.…”