Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, today's effort is a moment of satisfaction but not delectation. This stands before us as a testament that Congress cannot be dictated to by a minority of the majority. This institution cannot work based upon the principle that a minority of the majority can dictate the outcome of legislative life. I am glad we are finding common ground and common purpose. It is similar to the Congress that I joined a lot of years ago. But rather than a moment of gloating, we should all take a look at what has happened to the process that once governed this institution. And my plea to the new Speaker of the House is going to be: Remember that the committee system is the vertebra of Congress. It is within the structure of the committee system that we find the way forward. And to Speaker Boehner, a good man and a good friend who leaves here in the next couple of days, congratulations, as well as to Leader Pelosi, Leader McConnell, and Leader Reid. But the sad commentary is this could never have happened if they didn't take it upon themselves to do the actual negotiation. The polarization in this institution would have prevented that. We cannot keep taking America to the financial precipice. We need some predictability, some confidence in building the economy. By embracing this proposal, we allow that opportunity to perhaps happen. We take default off the table. The full faith and credit of the United States will not be impugned.…”