Political Quotes

“I say to my friend, who is a veteran legislator, we can only get legislation passed when one is willing to compromise. Legislation is the art of compromise, the art of consensus building. We do not have anyone willing to compromise at all. It is all or nothing, their way or no way. It is too bad because the Senator is absolutely right. We have four things the majority leader has said he needs to do before we leave. It is not that he is being arbitrary. First of all, the Export Administration Act expires the middle of August, and the high-tech industry of America needs that legislation very badly. He did not drum this farm bill out of nowhere. It is something that has to pass the experts downtown. The Office of Management and Budget has said the money is lost if we do not pass this bill so it can go to family farmers. We have to do it, they say, by the August recess. The Transportation appropriations bill, we need to get that done. It is almost all done anyway. Then, of course, there is VA-HUD. I was here today when the House sent this over. It is done in the House. We could do that. Senators Mikulski and Bond have both come to me, they have come to the minority leader and the majority leader, saying: When can we do this? It will not take very long. But we are being prevented from moving forward on legislation. I think it is too bad.”