Political Quotes

“I particularly support its expansion of outreach efforts designed to help emerging small businesses compete for Federal contracts. I think that those specific provisions of the amendment offered by the Senator from Kentucky would truly be very helpful to a lot of small businesses regardless of their ownership. Moreover, I share the opposition of the Senator from Kentucky to numerical quotas. I don't like the numerical quotas that are in current law. Whether or not they are constitutionally suspect, they are certainly inflexible, and they are often unfair. I am also opposed to creating a permanent entitlement or preference for businesses based upon their ownership by minorities or women. We should be providing such businesses a hand up, not a permanent handout. However, I believe that the amendment offered by the Senator from Kentucky goes too far. In my view, the programs funded under ISTEA should include a nonnumerical goal--not a quota, not a 10-percent set-aside, but a goal aimed at increasing participation by disadvantaged business enterprises. Unfortunately, the Senator from Kentucky has indicated that he is unwilling to alter his proposal in this manner, and, for that reason, I am going to vote against his amendment.”