Political Quotes

“I thank the Senator. We see our good friend, Senator Alexander from Tennessee, has arrived, and we very much appreciate that. I say to Senator Alexander, one of the things we have been discussing--and Senator Merkley had a chart and had the history of what had happened as far as rules debates. There have been a lot of rules debates--in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and always--always--the two leaders would allow a rules proposal to be on the Senate floor and be debated and be disposed of. We now have a situation today where we cannot get our rules proposals onto the floor. Senator Merkley is here with a talking filibuster proposal. I say to the Senator, I believe he has been talking with you. I say to Senator Alexander, you have been very open with us in saying: Let's have discussions. And your theme has really been, like you say in your speech at the Heritage Foundation: [T]he Senate needs to change its behavior, not to change its rules. That has been the Senator's function. But the Senator is also working on rules changes with Senator Schumer, and we very much appreciate that. But I know Senator Harkin has a proposal. Senator Merkley has a proposal. I have S. Res. 10. I say to the Senator, he was here on the first day of the Senate session on January 5 when we put in, with my two friends, S. Res. 10. We are just trying to get it to the floor, and that is what I am going to ask right now, with my unanimous consent request. We very much appreciate the Senator being here. Mr.…”