Political Quotes

“throughout his career in the Senate, the senior Senator from Iowa has styled himself as an advocate for transparency in government. A number of years ago he said: I believe in the principle of open government. Lack of transparency in the public policy process leads to cynicism and distrust of public officials. . . . As a matter of principle, the American people need to be made aware of any action that prevents a matter from being considered by their elected Senators. He reiterated his beliefs just a few days ago here in this Chamber, and here is what he said last week: The principle of government transparency is one that does not expire. . . . Open government is good government. And Americans have a right to a government that is accountable to its people. So Senator Grassley's commitment to transparency is as shallow as the shallowest puddle you could find. All it took was one phone call, obviously, from the Republican leader for Senator Grassley to abandon any pretense of transparency and shut the American people out of the Supreme Court nomination process--shut them out. This is the same Senator who once said, ``As a matter of principle, the American people need to be made aware of any action that prevents a matter from being considered by their elected Senators.'' Nothing that Senator Grassley has done with respect to the Supreme Court vacancy meets his own standard for transparency.…”