Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to speak in opposition to the Paul amendment. Members of both parties have always agreed an independent--underscore independent--central bank is critical to a functioning economy. Congress put in place restrictions to shield the Fed's monetary policy from political influence. This longstanding restriction ensures that the Fed isn't subject to the whims of Congress, to the partisanship, to the nihilism--if I could use another word--of, too often, people in this body. Whether it is threatening a default or a government shutdown, all too common because of dysfunction and chaos in the House of Representatives--whether it is threatening a default or government shutdown, we have already seen how partisanship so negatively impacts people's pocketbooks in the broader economy. We don't need it here too. This amendment would make the Fed less effective. It would open it up to all kinds of nefarious political pressure. Congress already requires that the Fed undergo regular review of their operations, of their programs, of their balance sheet, of their financial statements. These are some of the ways Congress holds the Fed accountable while avoiding dangerous political interference. This amendment is irrelevant to what we are voting on today. It is yet another impediment to keeping our government open. It shouldn't be partisan. It shouldn't be political. Those antics should stay out of this debate. I urge my colleagues to vote no on the Paul amendment.…”