Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I think that there is a sufficient opportunity here going forward, as the previous gentlemen has spoken, to discuss the whole issue of flood insurance. I just don't think this is the moment to be discussing the flood insurance initiatives. Instead, I think that ought to be subject to a full-throttled debate in this institution about getting those things done. This is not, I think, the appropriate forum for accomplishing that. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), the ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, this is purportedly an absolutely essential extension of authorization for the Federal Aviation Administration to continue to operate after October 1. Unfortunately, it has devolved into other issues because it has turned into a Christmas tree on the Republican side of the aisle. We need to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration. The last time Congress failed to do this--and the ticket tax, which is what pays for air traffic control in America, expired--almost every airline in America raised their rates 7.5 percent, got a $400 million windfall, which the government lost, with the exception of two: I understand, Alaska and Spirit. So if we fail to reauthorize, we can expect that that will happen again.…”