Mike Quigley: “Gee, Mr. Chairman, I thought you were just pounding the gavel to break the monotony, but I appreciate that. I have to be…”

“Gee, Mr. Chairman, I thought you were just pounding the gavel to break the monotony, but I appreciate that. I have to be honest, Mr. Chairman, I am not sure whether this argument is worthy of the dignity of this House, that people who take the highest level of government function, Cabinet-level positions--and again you can disagree with them, Mr. Chairman, all you want, but to make this so personal and to take their orientation to task because you personally don't like the other people or their orientation, when it is absolutely none of your business, where has the Republican Party gone? How has it gone from a party that said: We are going to let people live their lives; we are not going to intrude on them at all; we are going to let them live personally, and the worst thing government can do is inflict their own beliefs upon them? That is exactly what the toxic atmosphere of language like we just heard is all about. It is not what we are as a country. Part of that personal freedom extends to everyone, even if they happen to be Secretary of Transportation. Mr. Chair, I apologize to the Secretary and all the public servants who have to go through this disgraceful kind of treatment. Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment. It is not worthy of this body. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Greene). The amendment was agreed to. The Acting CHAIR.…”