Political Quotes

“I say, with all due respect to my good friend, the Senator from Oklahoma, we have not done these things because the minority won't let us do them. We have been here reporting for duty. Senator Byrd and Senator Stevens, on the appropriations bills, reported every one of them out of committee before the August recess. But a decision has been made by the minority not to let us move on any. That is why we have been on the Interior appropriations bill. This has been the fifth week. So I appreciate the efforts by the minority to make this fact, that we have done nothing in the Senate, our fault, but the American public knows. We have stated here many times that we are willing to do terrorism insurance, election reform, Patients' Bill of Rights, generic drugs, bankruptcy--all these things that are stuck in conference. We are willing to do every one of the appropriations bills. But they won't let us. Now, people say: What do you mean, ``they won't let us''? That is the way it is in the Senate, a simple majority does not do the trick in the Senate. You need 60 votes. They have 49. We cannot get up to 60.”