Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I have no objection to the colloquy now in progress. I would say to my good friend on this side of the aisle from Virginia, any comparison between what you now desire here and my tax bill is nonapt. These are the only nontaxpayers leaving the District that we do not welcome back. But this is also the only State responsibility that any Member of this Congress has stood to help the District with. We are the only city in the United States that bears responsibility for State prisoners along with Medicaid and every other State responsibility. I welcome the attention that this matter is now given, even if it comes from the fact that it is in the State of Virginia. When mutual interests come together, that may be the best way to solve a problem. My good friends are correct that conditions at Lorton are detestable and that it is irresponsible to wait until a prison crisis develops, even as we have waited until a financial crisis has developed in the District. Everyone knows that the District is powerless at the moment to do anything about conditions at Lorton because of the insolvency of the city. The mayor and I have indicated that we would accept some measure of Federal responsibility despite the fact that home rule figures large for all of us.”