Political Quotes

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, these rules would mark the capitulation by a large number of Republicans who, for a time, reflected the views of 86 percent of the American people and the hopes of the Dreamers those Americans support. If they vote for this pretense of reform and security, they will have abandoned the principles they mouthed and the people who relied on their courage. Contrary to the Speaker and majority leader, the test for bringing bills to the floor must not be whether the President, untethered to principle, would sign them, but whether they reflect the will of the people and this House. The Speaker refuses to put options on the floor supported by, at one time, 247 Members of this House. Now, 240 Members have supported a rule to give us four competing options to address the Trump-caused crisis. That number may not comply with the Hastert rule, but it does comply with democracy. And it would give the Speaker his option as well. The Speaker clearly fears that his alternative will fail. As a result, he has opposed an open process. So much for the leadership that claimed--falsely--to pursue transparency, openness, and a willingness to take the tough issues head on and individually. The bill it would bring to the floor, contrary to what Speaker Ryan and Leader McCarthy claim, is no compromise. A compromise, by definition, requires both sides to come together and meet in the middle. We did.…”