Political Quotes

“I am inclined to simply say, ``Enough already.'' Mr. Chairman, look at this week's U.S. News and World Report. The National Capital, the gentleman's capital, has become a national daily controversy. You cannot separate yourself from that. There is a reason why the chairman of the committee on which you serve and the chairman of the subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations oppose this bill. This is not an appropriation we are dealing with; this is a city we are dealing with. It is a city that is insolvent. These across-the-board cuts have been offered before in the Congress, but never for the District of Columbia appropriation. There is a reason for it. It is a complicated organism we are dealing with here. It is down on its knees, going, going, gone. The Federal payment has not increased in 5 years. For the third year in a row the chairman has required a cut in the District's payment. Mr. Chairman, the PILOT we have here, PILOT, the payment in lieu of taxes, keeps us from building on the most valuable and most useful land in the city, right in the middle of the city.”