Political Quotes

“in today's New York Times we learned about Trudy LeBlue, an employee of a hair salon outside of New Orleans. Ms. LeBlue's story is like that of many hard-working Americans. While she struggles to make ends meet, her employer forces her to work off the clock just to avoid paying overtime. Across this country American families are working toward a better life, yet find their climb getting tougher. Just this week we learned wholesale inflation is up 1.7 percent last month alone, the sharpest monthly increase in 15 years. Since 2001 health care costs are up by a third, college tuition costs up by 32 percent, personal bankruptcies up by 38 percent. But what is the Congress doing to reduce the burdens on American families? A tax policy that has shifted the burden onto working families off of wealth, failed to pass a higher education legislation, failed to pass legislation on comprehensive health care or on energy policy. And just last night alone we voted to increase our Nation's debt to $8 trillion, a 40 percent increase in the past 4 years. This vote was a fitting end to this Congress's record on the economy and what it has done for working families. Rather than making the right choices, we pass the buck. Mr. Speaker, the American people look to the Congress to solve their problems, not add to them. Yet more than often than not, the 108th Congress has chosen to pass our responsibilities on to future generations. Mr. Speaker, passing the buck is not leadership.”