Political Quotes

“this highway bill will spend over $200 billion of taxpayers' money. The fact is that well over half of those taxpayers are women and minorities. It is only a matter of basic fairness that groups comprising a majority of American taxpayers should have a realistic chance to compete for 10 percent of the highway programs paid for by their tax dollars. It was that very fundamental issue of fairness that caused 58 Democrats and Republicans in the other body to vote ``no'' on this unfair amendment. The DBE program is not a quota. I oppose quotas. But what is good for America and good for our highway program is that when we are spending billions of American taxpayer dollars we should at least make it a goal to not exclude women and minorities from these programs. That is the right thing to do. Mr. Chairman, I have heard a few Members today talk about reverse discrimination in the highway business. Well, I have a suggestion for them: Go across this country and visit highway contractors and come back to me and tell me if they really think there are too many Hispanics and African-Americans and women owning and managing highway contractor firms. And while they are at it, take a look at those States who had gotten rid of goals and see what has happened. Then they and I can talk about real discrimination. Mr. Chairman, I have reservations about this bill, quite frankly.…”