Political Quotes

“Thank you very much. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the resolution I just mentioned. I have worked very hard with all of my colleagues, including my two colleagues from Iowa and Oregon, Senators Harkin and Merkley, to reform the rules of this unique and prestigious body. I do so after coming to the floor last January--January 25, in fact, now almost 1 year ago--to issue a warning, a warning because of partisan rancor and the Senate's own incapacitating rules, that this body was failing to represent the best interests of the American people. The unprecedented abuse of the filibuster, of secret holds, and of other procedural tactics routinely prevent the Senate from getting its work done. It prevents us from doing the job the American people sent us here to do. Since that day in January things haven't gotten better. In fact, I would say they have gotten worse--much worse. Here in the Senate open and honest debate has been replaced with secret backroom deals and partisan gridlock. Up-or-down votes on important issues have been unreasonably delayed and blocked entirely at the whim of a single Senator. Last year, for example, one committee had almost every piece of legislation held up by holds from one Senator. The Senate is broken. In the Congress that just ended, because of rampant and growing obstruction, not a single appropriations bill was passed. There wasn't a budget bill. Only one authorization bill was approved, and that was only done at the very last minute.…”