Political Quotes

“I will sit down very shortly. My friend from Texas is one of the smartest people in the Senate. He is an academic, he has a Ph.D., taught in college, and I certainly have every respect for not only his academic brilliance but also his common sense. Common sense dictates that this bill, which has been available since May 23--it has been available. Staffs had it; my staff had it. Other staffs have had an opportunity to look at it. There may be a lot of reasons why the Senator from Texas doesn't want to go forward with this legislation, but it is not that this bill just got here, because the bill has been here since May 23. It was reported out May 22. By Senate standards, it is a pretty thin bill. It is 117 pages. But in this there are a number of issues about which people have complained. The Egyptian journalists section was not requested by Senator Byrd; it was requested by Senator McConnell. That is why it is in the bill. The $3.5 million for the independent media in Pakistan about which my friend complained, that was not requested by Senator Byrd; it was requested by Senator McConnell. So I appreciate the concern of the Senator from Texas and others. But he is right. We want to move this train. We have so many important things to do and this is the most important thing we have to do now. I repeat, this is a bill for further recovery and response to terrorist attacks in the United States.”