Political Quotes

“First, I thank my friend from Wyoming for his remarks. I don't always agree with him, but he is sincere, thoughtful, and puts every effort into coming up with a decision he believes is right, so we appreciate that very much. I also thank my colleague from Rhode Island, our ranking member on Armed Services, who has laid out in very careful terms why the amendment, the Reed amendment, is so important. I thank him. He has also, like my friend from Wyoming, been assiduous, diligent, and careful in his work on the Armed Services Committee, and I thank him for offering this amendment. We have come to the floor with a very simple message for our Republican colleagues, and it is articulated in this amendment. If you want to make America strong by replacing the harsh and arbitrary automatic cuts in this budget as we do, then you have to do it in a way that makes sure we will have a strong military abroad and the things we need to be strong and secure at home as well. That means equally replacing cuts to both defense and domestic budgets--$1 for defense, $1 for the middle class--in the hopes that they can raise their income levels, and it can be easier for others who are not yet in the middle class to reach. That is what the amendment would require. The truth is, the way the Republicans have put this bill together signals a poor approach to both major areas of our budget.…”