Political Quotes

“we have tried and tried and tried to get the Republicans to allow us to go to conference on ethics, on lobbying reform and also on the 9/11 Commission recommendations. They have prohibited us from doing that. In the Senate, there are procedural blocks that can be placed on measures, and they have done that. They have done it for reasons that are fleeting in importance. We were ready to do ethics and lobbying reform, and someone stepped in and said: Well, I don't like the earmark provision, I want them to be handled some other way--a diversion, a dilatory tactic to stop this Congress from doing what it needs to do regarding lobbying and ethics reform. Republicans are trying to stop reform. We have lived in a culture of corruption during Republican leadership. For the first time in 131 years, someone working in the White House is indicted, the man is now in prison, Scooter Libby. Safavian, head of Government contracting for the President, appointed by the President, handles billions of dollars for the Government contracting, he was led away from his office in handcuffs; he is now in prison. The majority leader in the House of Representatives was convicted three times within 1 year of ethics violations. He was indicted in the State of Texas. He resigned. Another Member of Congress is serving jail time for corruption. Abramoff, whose tentacles seem to go throughout this town, is in prison.”