Political Quotes

“I compliment all Senators in the way they have worked cooperatively and expeditiously in moving these three very important appropriations bills forward. Every Senator who has had an amendment has worked with us constructively either to modify it or to comply with what the leadership wanted to do. I compliment all the managers for their work in moving the bills forward. I think it shows that we can govern ourselves. This is the first time in a couple of years that we are actually following the regular order on due deliberations of our appropriations bills. It is very important that we do this to meet our fiscal responsibility of funding annual appropriations; that is, actually putting money in the Federal checkbook. We have followed the regular order by each subcommittee holding rigorous hearings, doing due diligence in terms of oversight, and being quiet guardians of the purse. If anybody has watched us over the last couple of days, we have moved expeditiously. The debate has had such rigor, civility, we have learned from each other, and we have modified amendments back and forth. I think this is so positive and so constructive. I hope we can conclude deliberations on these three appropriations bills today. Again, Senators need to have their say.…”