Political Quotes

“across the country Americans are lamenting the lack of progress in negotiations to avoid a massive tax increase on middle-class families, and I share that frustration. But for insight into why negotiations have been difficult, consider yesterday's failure of the disabilities convention at the hands of the tea party. This shouldn't have been a battle, but extreme elements of the Republican Party picked a fight when there was nothing to fight about. Thirty- eight Republicans voted against the convention, including several who were on record supporting it, even cosponsored it. This treaty, already ratified by 125 countries, would hold foreign nations to the same high standard and treatment the United States already maintains for people with disabilities. It would safeguard American citizens traveling, working, and serving abroad, and that is hundreds of thousands of people right now. The treaty has the support of veterans groups, disability groups from around the country, virtually all of them. It wouldn't cost the taxpayers a single penny. It wouldn't require any changes to existing United States law, and the issue is as bipartisan as they come. Here is what one Senator said about the treaty: Protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, any person's, is not a political issue. It is a human issue, regardless of where in the world a disabled person strives to live a normal, independent life where basic rights and accessibilities are available.…”