Political Quotes

“I thank my friend for that information. As the gentleman probably recalls, back in January Majority Whip Scalise was quoted as saying: ``We will forge ahead with spending bills and other initiatives in the coming year.'' He implied that the House would start early on its appropriation bills. Now, I can remember, as a long-time member of the Committee on Appropriations, that early for us was early May for actual appropriation bills to be on the floor. In December, Speaker Ryan stated: ``By having this budget agreement that my predecessor put in place, we no longer have a dispute over the sequester.'' Now, it is my understanding, Mr. Leader, that the budget that is being proposed is inconsistent with and does not carry out the agreement that was made between the Speaker and our leader and on which the House voted, a significant majority of the House voted to pass a budget deal. It is my understanding this budget does not carry it out. After saying: Let's set aside the dispute over the sequester, the Speaker went on to say: ``By getting the slate cleaned now''--Mr. Leader, this was December 22 that the Speaker said this. ``By getting the slate cleaned now''--which meant this argument over sequester, which of course your chairman of the Committee on Appropriations has said is unreasonable and unworkable, in effect, and ``ill-advised'' was the word that he specifically used.…”