Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, last week, President Clinton in his State of the Union Address called upon Congress to get on with the job we were sent here to do. Our first major test this year is to vote down this rule. Unfortunately, the House leadership continues to rule this body with contempt for differences of opinion, and refuses to allow entirely germane ideas a to be debated and voted on the House floor. Even though the U.S. Senate has debated a similar amendment for cost-benefit analysis, and approved it nearly unanimously, the House leadership refuses to allow this idea to be voted on. Why? Why, Mr. Speaker? This is not the first time. The balanced budget amendment, term limits, a genuine line item veto--all these issues have overwhelming public support, and haven't seen the light of day in this Chamber. The American people wonder why they haven't been acted upon. The reason is the leadership refuses to allow them to the floor for a vote. And when it comes time for allowing amendments, the leadership only allowed open rules on 12 percent of the bills debated last year. Twelve percent! Whether or not you agree with the amendment that the Senate passed, or whether or not you even agree with the bill itself, you should be willing to allow an issue to reach the floor and be debated. That's what all of us were sent here to do. Please vote ``no'' on this rule.”