Louise Slaughter: “despite the best efforts that many of us have put forth here in Congress, last night parliamentary games kept us from…”

“despite the best efforts that many of us have put forth here in Congress, last night parliamentary games kept us from passing the crime bill. We will go back to our districts without it. We get back from the district work period on April 12, and, even if we pass the crime bill that day, and we will not if these parliamentary games continue, but based on the crime rate, Mr. Speaker, in that time more than 800 people will be shot and killed, more than 200 children will be killed by guns, more than 4,000 women will be raped. Thomas Scott, President of the Detectives Endowment Association, said in a letter he wrote to us: To put it bluntly, we in law enforcement are tired, frustrated and totally dismayed with most politicians regarding the passage of this much needed bill. Rome is burning, and politicians continue to fiddle. We saw some fine fiddling last night; didn't we? Let's pass the bill now. We will be watching closely, and we hope we can count on your support. That was written on January 27, Mr. Speaker, and the fiddling continues. Parliamentary maneuvers have made it impossible for us to go home with the crime bill we promised.”