Political Quotes

“Nearly 4 years ago, I stood in this Chamber and talked about a deficit that was chipping away at our government. No, it wasn't the fiscal deficit, though that certainly is weighing us down; rather I warned of the deficit of trust that has caused the American people to lose faith in government and, quite simply, give up on Washington. Back then, stories of scandals and ethics violations led nightly newscasts, and trust in government was at an all-time low of just 19 percent. Now, 4 years later, trust in government is still at 19 percent, though Congress' rating has dropped even lower, to 9 percent in recent polls. I regret to say that little has changed, including our efforts to rebuild that trust. If Illinois politics has taught me anything, it is very hard to lead without that trust, and the only way to earn it back is to increase transparency and openness throughout our government. As Justice Brandeis said, Sunlight is the best of disinfectants. That is why I am introducing the Transparency in Government Act, which will shine a light on every branch of the Federal Government, strengthening our democracy, and promoting an efficient, effective, and open government because the fact is that the mission of government matters. What we do here in this Chamber matters, so much so that it is written in the very bedrock of American Government.…”