Political Quotes

“I simply want to take one moment to say that with all this debate we sometimes forget what this bill is about. There are a couple simple questions before the House. First, should everyone who lobbies, who actually engages in the business of professional lobbying register and disclose to the American public all those moneys that they spend to influence the course of legislation? The answer is yes. Second, should those people who register as lobbyists and are engaged in this business be prohibited from providing direct financial benefit to Members of Congress? The answer is also yes. We have heard a lot of opposition, some of it very principled indeed. Members who simply disagree with this approach. Others have been using the argument that we do not go far enough, but Common Cause, the New York Times oppose this legislation so we should, too. Let me say this: The role of the New York Times, the role of Common Cause is to push us. It is to criticize. It is to say what the outer limits of things are. Our job is to say this is time to move forward, that this is legislation that takes a significant step forward.”