Political Quotes

“Reserving the right to object, Mr. President, we have had millions of people over the last many months who have lost their unemployment benefits. In most instances it is real tragic. Many of the people who lost these benefits are past middle age. Because of the recession they lost their jobs they had for a long time and they cannot find work. We have read into the Record the tragic stories about people using their Social Security to try to save their son's home. We have the woman who is couch surfing. She said, ``I didn't know what the term meant. Now I know.'' They have had to struggle without extended unemployment benefits. The senior Senator from Rhode Island has negotiated a bipartisan fix to this. It has basically given the Republicans everything they asked for. Everything is paid for. There is no disagreement as to the pay- fors. It hasn't increased the deficit at all. In fact, it would stimulate the economy significantly. We have been told by economist Mark Zandi, John McCain's chief economic advisor when he ran for President, we have been told by him and others that unemployment benefits stimulate the economy quicker and faster and more efficiently than any other thing we do, because they are desperate for money and they spend it. But in spite of the bipartisan agreement negotiated with Senator Jack Reed, Senator Heller from Nevada and other Republicans, we have the vast majority of Republican Senators doing the same thing they have done for a long time.…”