Political Quotes

“Madam President, I rise to speak on the Reid amendment. First of all, I am sorry we are engaged in a filibuster. We are using parliamentary procedure in a way that only delays us taking votes. We are days away from default. We are days away from our bond rating being downgraded. If we fail to raise the debt limit, the United States of America will be irrevocably fractured. We cannot fail and we cannot falter. We must act, and we must act tonight. Last night, the Senate rejected the Boehner plan because it wasn't a solution. It would lead us over the cliff because it did not meet certain tests. If the Republicans force us into default or downgrade, it will be the biggest tax increase on Americans. When interest rates go sky high, it will be a tax on Americans. We know that we have to agree to additional spending cuts, but it has got to be long term. We have to have a path forward for eliminating tax earmarks and entitlement reform that does not lead to a stampede to shrink Social Security benefits or to raise the Medicare age. Mr. Boehner took it upon himself last week to come up with a solution. He told the President he--Mr. Boehner--was the guy to do it. Well, he didn't succeed. His proposal was failed leadership and failed economics because it did not meet the threat to our economy from default and downgrade. Mr. Boehner insisted that there be a vote in December to raise the debt ceiling; that the House and Senate must pass a balanced constitutional amendment.…”