Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I would say the gentleman from New York has a key point, but I think it makes our argument. Remember, the Brooke amendment has had two forms. As originally proposed by Senator Brooke and adopted, it was simply a cap and not a floor. It was changed in 1981 to be both a cap and a floor. Interestingly, the gentleman's chart begins with 1982, after the change. He is showing a decline. In fact, the amendment we are offering would restore the Brooke amendment to what it was before his. The point is, by the gentleman's own point on the chart, the Brooke amendment, before Gramm-Latta, did not have that effect. That is where he starts his chart. He characterizes the negative effect of the amendment to the Brooke amendment. But what we put forward leaves that out and restores it to the pre-1982 pre-chart days.”