Political Quotes

“Mr. President, with all due respect to my friend, the reality is that we have an economic emergency in this country. If 15 million people out of work isn't an emergency, I don't know what one is. So I would just fundamentally disagree with the Senator. In order for something to be an economic stimulus every economist-- from Reagan economists to Clinton economists to Bush economists to Obama economists--has said by funding this as emergency spending, we jump-start the economy. For every dollar we put into a family's pocket, we get $1.60 in economic turnaround, economic benefit because families who are out of work are forced to spend the money that is put in their pockets. So, no, I would fundamentally disagree. We have had economists testify who would fundamentally disagree with that premise. It sounds good. It sounds good. I wish we had paid for the huge tax cuts that were done a number of years ago. I wish we had paid for that. But right now what we are saying is, where we ought to focus our energies is on taking away the stimulus that comes from unemployment benefits, and somehow we have to get our focus back on people who have lost their jobs. So I fundamentally have a disagreement. Mr. LeMIEUX. Mr. President, if I could just ask one more question. I don't disagree with the Senator about spending the money; I would like to extend unemployment compensation.…”