Political Quotes

“I am stunned by what didn't happen in the House of Representatives last night. I appreciate that they, with the support of all but a handful of Democrats and just a handful of Republicans, passed something to keep us from going over the fiscal cliff, and that is admirable. Nancy Pelosi deserves such accolades for carrying more than her share of the weight over there in passing this bill. But one of the things they didn't do last night--I wish to read into the Record a letter, an e-mail, from a person by the name of Barrie Kolstein, K-O-L-S-T-E-I-N: Owner of perhaps the oldest and one of the most recognized violinmaking shops in the United States, located in Baldwin, New York. Shop was severely damaged by recent hurricane Sandy. Owned buildings and occupied them for over 32 years without any problems at all. This storm compromised my building inside and outside, with facilities within the building backing up, pipe breakage and roof damage, plus the horrid conditions that literally assaulted all the buildings in my immediate area. Storm decimated my building as well as the neighboring buildings that perhaps was one of the more stable and viable business areas of Baldwin. My shop has been closed since the storm. We are doing our best to afford the restoration of the building and repair the numerous fine old pedigree string instruments (violins, violas, cellos and basses) that were so horribly damaged.…”