Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to oppose a $900 million earmark to the Gateway Project, an upgrade of an Amtrak rail bridge and tunnel between Newark and New York City. This earmark is a downpayment. The project is supposed to be $29.5 billion. My amendment would do two things: It would cut spending by $474 million, and it would take $400 million and add it to national transit funding. Mr. Chairman, New Jersey canceled a project doing the same thing in 2010. That was when it cost $8.7 billion. Now the Federal version costs $13 billion. This is what the Governor's office said, defending the decision, in reference to comments made by Senator Frank Lautenberg: `` . . . perhaps he can explain why he is insisting New Jersey tax and toll payers fund 70 percent of a project, while billions in Federal funding pour out of Washington for high-speed rail lines in other States like Florida, which will pay only 20 percent of project costs.'' Here we are, Mr. Chairman. Billions are about to pour out of Washington. If this earmark stands, then we send a clear message to the States: Shortchange your infrastructure, and Washington will bail you out. Mr. Chairman, I urge support, and I reserve the balance of my time.”