Political Quotes

“Mr. President, last week, I spoke on the floor regarding the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is managing director of the International Monetary Fund, due to the serious criminal charges he is now facing in New York. Mr. Strauss-Kahn has since resigned, but it appears he will now receive at least a $250,000 taxpayer-funded severance pay package from the IMF and may be eligible for further undisclosed amounts in annual IMF retirement benefits. Since the United States is the largest contributor to the IMF, we now face the potential share scenario where the American taxpayer is partly underwriting severance payments and retirement packages to a man who is pending a criminal conviction as a felon. This is clearly unacceptable, and it is my hope that the U.S. executive director to the IMF, Meg Lundsager, advocates that no future benefits pass to Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, if he is convicted of the crimes with which he is charged. As you know, the IMF is spearheading efforts to manage a very wide and deep European debt crisis. Despite my reservations about U.S. taxpayer bailouts for Greece, Ireland, and Portugal, the institution does play a very critical role in financial leadership. I think it needs to set an example, especially with regard to its now-disgraced leader. Mr. Strauss-Kahn has failed to live up to the expectations of his institution and what the American taxpayers support. State Bailouts Mr. President, the U.S.…”