Political Quotes

“I will be very brief. My friend the Republican leader said this morning, and I quote directly: I am trying to get a vote, a vote on what he says he's for, on what the President says he's for, and what the Republicans say they are for. That is what this consent agreement does. I am happy to let the Republican leader read the exact language. But let no one be fooled by this. The Hatch amendment does not do anything to protect small businesses. It does everything to protect Grover Norquist and his pledge; that is, make sure the American people are not satisfied. They believe--Democrats, Independents, and Republicans--that the top 2 percent of income earners in this country should contribute to solving the problems we have with the deficit and the debt in this country. That is what this is all about. I look forward to working with my friend the Republican leader to see if we can come to a position here where we can vote on the bill that is before us. I am concerned because the Hatch language eliminates our bill, but I am happy to have staff, during the night, look and see if we can arrive at some way to move forward. But I think I made my point clear. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, one other brief observation. I have already objected, but one other brief observation. The consent that I objected to also chose for us the amendment we would get to have, and of course that is not an agreement the Republican side would feel we would want to be a part of.”