Political Quotes

“here we go again, doing their best--that is, the Republicans--to stop us from going ahead on ethics and lobbying reform. The suggestion of the distinguished Senator from Utah is reasonable, but it should be a different matter. In fact, once we look at the amendment, we may be willing to accept it. But it is only an effort to divert attention from ethics and lobbying reform, those matters--corporate jets, what lobbyists can do, what they can't do, bundling, what we need to do with earmarks. It is an effort to divert attention from that. Attention may be diverted for a few minutes this afternoon, but we are going to continue to focus on it. We need to pass this legislation. It is important we do so. We, the Democrats, support what the Senator has suggested, basic electronic filing of FEC reports. There is no problem with that. Senator Feinstein moved it through the Rules Committee and has been seeking consent to pass it on the floor unanimously. We have never seen the amendment Senator McConnell wishes to stick on this. Once we have a chance to review it, we will be able, perhaps, to move forward on this consent request. In any event, let's not muddy the waters on the ethics bill. We want to move forward on that comprehensive bill, the most sweeping reforms in a long time, probably ever.”