Political Quotes

“Not right now. When Senator Inhofe brings this bill to the floor, the highway bill, this bill is a free-for-all. That is what the Senate is. It is kind of a cluttered, clumsy procedure, but that is what the Senate is. I hope we are not an extension of the House of Representatives where everything we do here is like in the House--a rule is set on it. If people feel strongly enough to break the rules, to change the rules, as they will have to do here, they can change it as to the nominations I have also mentioned. And next, they can change it on legislation. The Senator from Florida has not been here long, but he is certainly an experienced man, a former Cabinet officer of this country. I know he came here a few weeks ago with an important piece of legislation. To him, it was very important because it was important, he believed, to the people of Florida. But you knew, because of Senate procedures, if we wanted to stop that with 41 votes, we could do that. It should apply to everything we do here. I agree with my friend from Kentucky. I don't think we should be looking to pick fights and say that everybody the President sends up here has to be what we want. We know it is the President's prerogative. But for 214 years, the President consulted with the Senate on judicial nominations, and for many years the committee honored the blue slip, which ensured consultation.…”