Political Quotes

“Mr. President, as usual, prior to coming to call off the quorum, I had a visit with my friend from Kentucky, who is someone for whom I have the greatest respect. I am going to miss him so much, as I have said publicly and privately. In the days of my youth, I, of course, wanted to be the baseball player that he turned out to be. But that is another story. I didn't want to pitch. I wanted to be something else--a catcher or a shortstop. Mr. President, I regret that my friend has objected to this modest request. Earlier today, I was advised by the Republican leadership that they needed to have an amendment to be offered on this bill. As noted above, we agreed to that request. The items that we are proposing to extend in my substitute amendment include unemployment insurance, COBRA, flood insurance, highway funding, small business loans, and small business provisions of the American Recovery Act, the Satellite Home View Act, SGR--the so-called doctor fix--and poverty guidelines. All of these provisions will expire on Sunday, February 28. That is this coming Sunday. Agencies have been already sending out notices to unemployed workers--agencies such as a number of transportation departments around the country have sent out notices that their work had come to a stop, so they would not be getting benefits. It is critical that these programs continue so that Americans who are already struggling can continue to get this modest relief.…”