Political Quotes

“I think it is presumptuous of us today to suggest we are going to set the guidelines. The Senator from Alabama stood up repeatedly and said, ``I don't know what these legal agreements are. They could be awful.'' If the Senator doesn't know what they are, then how can he suggest they are awful? I don't know that some of those agreements might say if a case is settled either by global settlement or otherwise, the attorney's fees will be dramatically reduced. The Senator doesn't know, but he went forward with his amendment. The Senator from Minnesota has hit the nail on the head. These attorneys general who had the courage to come forward in the lawsuits but didn't have the resources to prosecute them, entered into agreements to bring in other attorneys to help. They fought a big battle in Minnesota; $125 million spent by the tobacco companies, yet they fought on valiantly and they are going to bring this case on to trial in January. And for us to close the door today and say it's over, no more agreements in terms of attorney's fees--I think it's presumptuous. It's exactly what the tobacco companies are praying for.”