Political Quotes

“If you mention Jerry Lewis from California, our Jerry Lewis probably wouldn't be the first one you would think of. You would think of Dean Martin's sidekick. When I first met Jerry Lewis some 40 years ago, I guess, now--how long has Jerry been gone? Thirty-two years plus however long he has been gone--I thought of Jerry Lewis. ``Oh, Jerry Lewis, yes, he is on the committee.'' I thought of the comedian Jerry Lewis. To some degree, Jerry Lewis was a comedian. He was a wonderful guy, wonderful spirit, a wonderful person. I served with him, as I said, for 32 years, both in the House of Representatives and on the Appropriations Committee. Actually, that is not really right. I served with him 32 years, but I was only on the committee for 23 years before I became the majority leader in 2006 and then went off the committee. Jerry Lewis is coupled in my thoughts with a guy named Vic Fazio, who was also from California, who was also on the Appropriations Committee, who was one of my closest friends and still is. I think about the two of them because Jerry Lewis and Vic Fazio, for a number of years, headed up the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee together. They were a team, a positive team, a team that agreed that this institution was worth protecting and worth serving. As I think of Jerry Lewis, I lament the fact--and in doing so, I want to thank Ken Calvert, also a member, for seeing me in the hall and saying, ``Are you doing this Special Order?'' Mr.…”