Paul Tonko: “Even the party of ``no,'' it was not good enough to say ``no'' to an issue like America COMPETES. On this very floor, we…”

“Even the party of ``no,'' it was not good enough to say ``no'' to an issue like America COMPETES. On this very floor, we had the opportunity to create millions of jobs through an investment in manufacturing; an investment in STEM, science, technology, engineering and math, for our students out there to train the workforce of the future; to invest in basic research; R&D; to do all sorts of incentives for business. Not only was it not enough to say ``no,'' because we had the votes with the ``no'' votes from the other side. We still had many more votes favorable. But then it was a game of politics to just drop the progress, kill the progress of America COMPETES to the point where the issue had to be resolved through all sorts of negotiations over a couple of weeks. So it held back progress.”