Political Quotes

“I would like to respond for 5 minutes, and then I will have to take the Chair and relieve the Presiding Officer. Let me again say how much I respect the Senator from Tennessee. No one on his side of the aisle--except perhaps the good Senator from Alabama--has spent more time on budget issues because that is actually the job of the Senator from Alabama. The Senator from Tennessee has taken it upon himself to be a leader. I agree with him that we are on right page, the right chapter, and in the right book to talk about some fiscal issues. I don't agree that the strategy to get us here was the right strategy, but we are here. There is no sense in pointing fingers. I do agree that the Senate needs to try to find our way forward because--the Senator from Tennessee is correct--where we are now, there are no winners and losers. It is just about doing what is right for the American people. I want to do that for the State of Louisiana, and he wants to do that for the State of Tennessee. We have lots of people who are counting on us to try to lower our temperatures and find a way forward. Secondly, I also agree with him that whatever we can come up with here has to be broadly supported on both sides--or at least core- supported on both sides--because it is going to have to be something we can bring to the House and say, look, this is the best we can do and we cannot go over this cliff. Thirdly, I want to make a point. On this Budget Control Act, that is law.…”