Political Quotes

“now before the month is out, both parties in both Chambers must unite on the most important goal of this work period: keeping the government open with a temporary extension of Federal funding. A continuing resolution, as we all know, is not a substitute for the appropriations process, but, rather, a tool to give us more time for the appropriators to do their work. And, fortunately-- in this body at least--Democratic and Republican appropriators have a very good track record of working together. In divided government, the only way Congress has been able to pass CRs is through bipartisan cooperation. We have seen that again and again and again these last 2 years. Unfortunately, House Republicans have regrettably forgotten that lesson. About a week ago, they introduced a 6-month CR that, from the first, proved to be unserious, partisan, and insufficient. And given what has happened in the House in the last few days, it is becoming clearer and clearer that only a bipartisan solution will work. We have been saying this all along, but the events of the past few days even further confirm just how much it is true. A real proposal for avoiding a shutdown would be the one that both sides write together, but House Republicans wrote their CR behind closed doors, without any input from the Democratic leader in the House, the President, myself, or any of the Democratic appropriators.…”