Political Quotes

“I think it takes a lot to criticize the fact that Republicans are offering amendments and we wouldn't allow votes on them. This has been the history of the Republican-controlled Senate for years: not allowing us to have votes on amendments that we offer, or wanted to offer. How many amendments have there been? Minimum wage, Dubai Ports, health care in many different areas such as stem cell, prescription drugs, and importation of prescription drugs. So there may be some logical issues that could be propounded as to why the majority doesn't like what is going on here. But the fact that we are not allowing votes on amendments should fall on deaf ears because we are experts at trying to offer amendments and not having votes on them. So I repeat what I said a little while ago. We have on the Senate floor today a bipartisan piece of legislation. Over here, we are united. We like the bill. The vast majority of us in the minority really like this bill, the one that is before the Senate right now. For example, the Kyl amendment, which was not tabled--it was moved in an effort to table their own amendment, which was somewhat surprising to me, but it wasn't tabled. The Kyl amendment, as I have explained on the floor before, would defeat a very good bipartisan bill. It would take what I believe, from my eyes, is the integrity of the bill, it would take it away. This is a good bill, a bill that has strong enforcement.…”