Political Quotes

“I am going to offer a consent agreement based on the conversations I have had with a number of Republicans, and a long conversation with my caucus just a few minutes ago. I am going to speak for a few minutes because I know everybody has a lot to do, but we have all been working hard to find a way to extend unemployment insurance benefits for 1.4 million Americans who are struggling to get by. We have a filibuster before us again--another one. First, Republicans complained they were filibustering these essential benefits because the extension was not paid for. So Senator Reed of Rhode Island came forward with a pay-for amendment. Then Republicans complained, they were filibustering because they had not been able to offer amendments. So a proposal was made--and I am going to do that in a short time with a unanimous consent request--that would give each side a reasonable number of amendments--five, to be specific. Now Republicans say they want to have their amendments and have a cloture vote to pass the bill too. Sounds as though Republicans want to, for lack of a better way to describe this, have their cake and eat it too. The question is, are Republicans filibustering unemployment insurance benefits or are they not? If we have an amendment process, then what we should get in exchange is an up-or-down vote on the bill, and that is what my consent agreement will call for.…”