Political Quotes

“first I want to thank Senator Boxer. It is a privilege to serve on the Environment and Public Works Committee with Senator Boxer, under her and Senator Inhofe's leadership. The bill we reported out, a 6-year bill, is a bill that deals with the surface transportation needs in this country. It was put together in a very bipartisan manner. It respected and reflected different views. I had certain views with regard to alternative transportation programs. Not everybody agreed, but we were able to come together on that issue so we can help local governments with their priorities. We need a 6-year bill. The Senator is absolutely right. I must tell the Senator, I could not agree with her more. We have been talking since the last extension, the extension before that, and the extension before that, that we need to have a 6-year reauthorization. The Senator was able, working with Senator Inhofe, to deliver a bill that does that. We have yet to see a 6-year bill from the House of Representatives. We are prepared to make the hard decisions. We are prepared to sit down with our House colleagues and work out the differences, but we need a 6-year reauthorization, not another short- term extension. They are talking now about 3 months. Another short-term extension provides no predictability. I have programs in Maryland, and I know the Senator from California has programs in her State, that you cannot plan with a 3-month partnership with the Federal Government.…”