Political Quotes

“just to respond briefly to my dear friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), all we want on this side are for meetings to be scheduled, for an opportunity for a consensus to be reached to actually be realized. Sure I would like the compromise or the consensus to look like the Norwood-Dingell, but I am not alone. 250 of my colleagues wanted the same thing, including three out of the five Republicans from my own State, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp), the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Jenkins). Unfortunately I cannot convince either of my Senators, Senators Frist or Thompson, to support it; but hopefully if we can arrange the meetings, we can find a consensus. My other colleague mentioned how this would only affect a small number of people, that we ought to be concerned with the uninsured. There is serious and vast concern on this side of the aisle for the uninsured, but why should we ignore the 160 million plus that this bill would cover? I support State tax relief. That would affect a small number of people. I support the capital gains tax relief. That would affect a small number of people. I support special ed, fully funding at the federal level. That would affect a small number of people. Do not act as if we are unaccustomed in this Congress to passing bills or offering public policy that would not affect everyone in America. We have a chance to do what is right.…”