Political Quotes

“Last week I met with Rich Lowry, the editor of the National Review, whose new book, ``Lincoln Unbound,'' urges the Republican Party to embrace an aspirational agenda of Abraham Lincoln, who led an ambitious program of rail and canal construction. His book calls to mind the words of Sheila Bair, a George W. Bush administration official, who, in February, urged her fellow Republicans to remember that, from Lincoln's transcontinental railroad to Eisenhower's highway system, Republicans have understood that investing in critical infrastructure projects creates jobs and expands the economy. Yet the appropriations bill that was on the floor this week would have cut $2 billion from the Department of Transportation. It was a total rejection of the Lincoln-Eisenhower tradition. We have spent $87 billion rebuilding the infrastructure of Afghanistan and just approved $5 billion more. According to the United States inspector general, supporters of the Taliban and al Qaeda are getting the contracts and ``far too much will be wasted'' due to insufficient oversight. This, Mr. Speaker, is appalling, and it's time to do nation-building right here at home. ____________________”