Political Quotes

“Mr. President, a few weeks ago, as we were debating whether to move to this bill now on the floor, I sent a letter to the distinguished majority leader, Senator Reid, and I was joined by several of my colleagues. We made a real simple point. The simple point was this: We have a spending and a debt crisis. We need to act and we need to act now. So rather than continue to bring up various cats and dogs bills, various matters that aren't related to that crucial, central spending and debt question before us, we should focus on the task at hand. We should focus on our greatest challenge: meeting this spending and debt challenge. Unfortunately, the distinguished majority leader did not heed that call. He proceeded with this bill. For the reasons I outlined, I and the other signatories of the letter voted against moving to this bill. Unfortunately, now, as we are on the eve of a potential government shutdown, I believe what has transpired has sort of made my point again. Why haven't we been focused on that crucial spending and debt challenge like a laser beam, to come together, to offer sensible solutions to avoid these eleventh or even twelfth hour negotiations? Because here we are and here we go again: Another crisis, another eleventh or twelfth hour negotiation; another potential government shutdown.…”