Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today with gratitude to thank and honor my good friends and esteemed colleagues Senator Alexander and Senator Johanns. The willingness to vote on two of the President's nominees to serve as members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve that they have expressed today is exactly the sort of bipartisan approach that has historically made the Senate work. I would like to honor their efforts to get us back to that proud tradition and thank them for their efforts to bring these two distinguished men to a vote. Serving on the Banking Committee together, I know Senator Johanns to always do his due diligence when reviewing any proposed legislation or in this case nominees. I am grateful for it. I am also grateful my good friend Senator Alexander is the ranking member of the Rules Committee. His hard work and insight were invaluable as we worked together to streamline presidential appointments and to pass a bill in the Senate to reduce the number of positions requiring Senate confirmation last year. He has always worked for the betterment of this body. Today is another example. Yet despite our work last year, we face a backlog of nominations which gridlocks other important legislative business. That is not how the process should work. The Senate was designed to be a thoughtful and deliberative body. But the American public is harmed when we are not able to get qualified people confirmed to positions in a timely manner.…”