Political Quotes

“on the CJR, criminal justice reform, I am really deeply heartfelt in thanking everyone who was involved in the criminal justice reform legislation. I thank Senator Durbin, for whom this issue was a year's-long passion. When Senator Durbin gets his teeth into an issue, he does not let go until he achieves it, and he is great at getting it done. It was a real victory for him. Senator Booker felt this issue so passionately from his residents in Newark and in seeing what had happened to friends of his and people he had known. He was a brilliant legislative tactician in knowing just how far to push and in getting the most he could from a Congress that was not from our side of the aisle. Senator Whitehouse carried the mantle of making sure that while people are in prison, they are given adequate preparation so when they come out, they don't become recidivists again--free from drugs, with job training--and so they can become useful and productive members of society. Senator Harris also added her passion and experience as attorney general to the great arguments for this bill. I don't want to leave out colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Senator Grassley played a real role as a statesman. Senator Lee did tremendous work on this bill. Again, like with Senator Booker but from an opposite point of view, he knew when to hold and knew when to fold.…”