Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express the frustration that I feel at the continuing budget impasse in Minnesota. Minnesota faces the biggest budget deficit in its history, and with it comes a responsibility to govern and a cautionary tale for this body. A government shutdown at any level is not only detrimental to the economy and to the success of small businesses, but it's hazardous to the progress of our society as educational programs and nonprofit organizations are put at risk. Like many of the citizens of southern Minnesota who have written me about this shutdown, I share a concern for the families harmed by this shutdown, working parents who receive child care assistance, disabled Minnesotans who rely on State services for their better quality of life, roads remaining unrepaired and simple things like campgrounds being closed where families can't spend time together. A gentleman approached me in Stewartville at a Fourth of July parade. He asked me if I was working this week. I said yes, I was. And he said he wasn't, but he sure wished he was because he was force furloughed. When it comes to divided government, we all win when no one political party wins. In Minnesota, that means both the Governor and the legislature need to compromise. We need to put politics aside to put Minnesota first. The same applies to this body. ____________________”