Political Quotes

“I voted against it, and I voted against cloture on the bill, but it was a bipartisan passage. I understand that. I don't dispute that. I saw what the numbers were. The bill was changed a little as it came from the committee, but it passed. It was bipartisan. I recognize that. But the efforts made to extend this should be bipartisan. The House is going to do what they do, and they are going to send us a piece of legislation. They have not had time--I have spoken to the Speaker, and she has not had time, through her committees, for them to come up with the necessary work to have a conference that is meaningful because they are not ready for that. So they are going to send us a message and we are going to have to act on that. If we pass it, it will not be what the President wants. If we have a little more time, the House, which has been working recently with the White House quite well on the stimulus package and other things, maybe could work something out. But you can't create something out of nothing, and that is what the President wants. He is looking for an excuse to wave his banner of ``be afraid, terror.'' That is what he and the Vice President have done. We understand the law is important. We believe it should be extended for a short period of time.”