Mary Landrieu

However, had we been more patient, I believe we could have dealt with Saddam Hussein without damaging relations with important allies.

I reject that view, and I believe his attacks against people who work for you are unfair and misguided.

I would like to thank Senator DeWine and Senator Lautenberg for introducing legislation today that would provide substantial funding for enforcement efforts to stop drunk driving and increase seatbelt use.

Your term of putting it on a path concerned me. It sounded like we are going to put it on a path, and walk away.

Are we going to work through the United Nations to get those commitments?

Does not the President's larger objective for the Middle East, and for our relations with the Muslim world and for the war on terrorism require us to have a long-term commitment to reconstruction in Iraq?

What kind of precedent does this set? Why should a parliament that voted to obstruct vital U.S. war plans still receive aid?

It seems extremely unwise to escalate our involvement in other conflicts at this time.

The People of Louisiana did not send me to the Senate abrogate that power in favor of the President.

It is important that we bear in mind the wisdom of America's greatest foreign policy success, as we work to create a new vision for the Middle East.

I must note that the unwillingness of the administration to submit this measure or discuss its plans in advance of submitting the bill makes it extremely challenging for the Congress to exercise its proper role under the Constitution.

I did not say it went to wealthy families. I do not have a problem helping wealthy families. My problem is when resources are limited we should help the poor families first, the middle-income families second, and the wealthy families…

I am going to do everything I can to oppose these two programs and instead try to support the public schools, as well as choice for parents, real choice that means something to them.

In my view one of the roles of the Federal Government is to try to close that gap and help those children that come from less affluent neighborhoods to actually have equal opportunity to succeed.

One of the roles of the Federal Government is to try to close the opportunity gap between the affluent districts in this Nation and the disadvantaged districts

I think that is absolutely what we should be doing.

The time for excuses is over. The President and his administration should be the ones that stop making excuses and be a good example for everyone else.

I think it is the height of hypocrisy for him to open his budget with the quote 'The time for excuse-making has come to an end.'

Well, he reneged on this promise. He continues to make excuses and I think it is a shame.

I want to go on record as saying that the President's budget is wholly inadequate to support the commitment that he made personally to the schools in Louisiana and to the schools throughout our Nation.

Louisiana is not asking, Mr. Chairman, for lower standards, we are asking for using common sense.

He reneged, in my opinion, on his promise to fund the Leave No Child Behind Act.

The Federal Government said they would pick up 40 percent of the tab of special needs, and the Federal Government is only picking up 8 percent

I think in this debate we have to be open to new approaches, but your efforts and the council's efforts particularly on expanding charter school options and choices in the District is very commendable.

Regarding school choice, perhaps an approach would be a limited pilot, as you have described, but that would include not just the District, but several other cities, but quite limited, and the parameters quite secure.