Political Quotes

“we have heard the expressions ``red herring'' and ``loss leader,'' all these terms that try to focus attention someplace where it shouldn't be focused. That is basically what the Republican leader has done this morning. He, of course, misconstrued what I said on the floor yesterday. I said that I am not here to debate the intricacies of this trade bill. Some can do that better than I. I have no qualms about saying that about myself. It is a very specialized area. But I do understand that the debate was not taking place because we were not on the bill. I said that I understand the procedure around here--and I do. The procedure is pretty simple. It is a fact that virtually all legislation that passes the Senate needs major bipartisan support. This year is an example. Nearly every bill passed by the Senate has enjoyed the support of over 90 percent of Senate Democrats. It is just a reality that the 114th Congress will take Democratic votes to get things done. Many Democrats don't support fast-track. I don't. The vast majority of Democrats don't. But without following all of the loss leaders, the red herrings the Republican leader threw out, the Finance Committee reported out four bills, and it is only logical we consider all four of them. I have said, and I say it again, it is only logical we take the Republican leader's words for what they are. He said: Let's get on the bill, and then we will start the amendment process.…”