Political Quotes

“I thank, Mr. Speaker, the majority leader for that information, and I am glad that he brought up the processes that are going to be followed. I want to quote to him something Speaker Boehner said on January 5, 2011, when he took the gavel: But you will always have the right to robust debate in an open process that allows you to represent your constituents, to make your case, offer alternatives and be heard. The gentleman has told me now three times that the Rules Committee hearing is going to be open and they will decide the process under which a bill is going to be considered. Apparently, I am presuming the gentleman does not know what the substance of that process will be. I don't know the substance. I don't know any language that is being proposed. No Member on our side of the aisle knows what language is being proposed. Maybe Members on your side of the aisle know. So what you are apparently telling me is that we will have the Rules Committee solely for the purpose of learning what substantive changes are suggested in the law. And I suggest to the majority leader, Mr. Speaker, that if that is the case, we will not be able to thoughtfully debate it, we will not be able to have a process that is open, and we will not have a process which allows us to make our case, offer alternatives, or be heard. I would predict, as has happened 67 times to date, this is going to be a closed rule.…”