Political Quotes

“Mr. President, yesterday I spoke about the importance of voting yes to proceed to the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill for 2015, H.R. 240. That motion was unsuccessful. Despite all the voices from the other side of the aisle expressing support for the Department of Homeland Security, they refused to actually proceed to debate the bill. My friends on the other side of the aisle have expressed concern that the bill is not 100 percent of what they want. In my experience, it is rare for anyone to get 100 percent of what they want when it comes to passing legislation, and that is certainly true when it comes to passing an appropriations bill. I am not talking about a vote on final passage or even a vote on amendments. I am talking about a vote to proceed to the debate on this bill. In addition to having the opportunity to offer amendments, an important part of the debate on a bill is the ability of any Senator to raise a budget point of order. My counterpart, the distinguished ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, has pointed out that there are budget points of order against the bill. But the point I would make is that in order for her to raise the budget point of order, you have to actually proceed to the bill.…”