Political Quotes

“I want to thank my good friend from Florida for her leadership on this bill, as well as my very good friend from Oklahoma, who has done a terrific job as chair. Both of you take your responsibilities extremely seriously, as you should. This is the bill that funds the institution itself, and you have both resisted efforts to demean this institution and to suggest that traditions and resources that have been available to this institution in the past are not necessary. Both of you understand, because you are institutionalists and revere this institution, there are a lot of things that go on in this institution that play an important role toward serving the American public. I do regret the fact that there was an amendment that was not made in order. I didn't expect that this amendment would have passed, but it was an issue that needed to be discussed on the House floor because it sets a precedent, what I believe is a very dangerous precedent. This year, this bill freezes congressional compensation. It is the sixth year in a row that we have frozen our own salaries, but by putting it in this bill, I have been part of this institution long enough to know that, once you do that, there is a very high likelihood that neither political party, no matter who has the majority, is going to be willing to ever take it out; and so it will acquire an aspect of permanence.…”