Political Quotes

“we are a little over 100 days into the new congressional session. With new leadership, new management, there was hope--and still is--that we can find some ways to establish bipartisan cooperation. By its nature, the Senate almost requires it. Under Senate rules, anything that is serious and important takes 60 votes. In a Chamber with 100 Members, that is obviously a supermajority, and that requires cooperation. When Senator Johnson has recovered to the point that he is back on the Senate floor and we are at full complement, Senate Democrats will have 51 votes to the Republicans' 49. This means that on any given day, if we are going to pass or consider important legislation, it has to be bipartisan. We need help. We need Republicans to join with Democrats to bring it to 60 votes. That is the nature of the Senate. Some people, particularly House Members--I used to be one--look at this as not only a quaint procedure but in many cases antiquated. I disagree.”