Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose this particularly reckless amendment. Surely, we can do better in this body than undiscriminating, mindless, across-the-board cuts. It doesn't matter what works or what doesn't. It doesn't matter what deserves investment or what doesn't. Just cut it all. Look at the damage to individual initiatives including many, and I have singled out some, that Republicans are noteworthy for having supported at least in the past. Think about the FAA's Contract Tower Program that has been so important for aviation in small communities; our improvement and certification processes for major aircraft; the NeighborWorks programs to support expansion of affordable housing opportunities; the housing opportunities in this bill for veterans; the supportive service for disabled people; housing opportunities for all kinds of people in need; critical investments in our port infrastructure. Funding in this bill increases that by about a third, and on it goes. This amendment would not encourage DOT or HUD to do more with less. It would force our constituents to do less with less. Surely, we can do better than this. This is the opposite of responsible, discriminating legislating, and I urge defeat of this amendment.”