Political Quotes

“I would say compliments to Mr. Pallone on his leadership, not just last year but it seems that we are having the same debate this year. Last year the voters said no to the Gingrich plan of Medicare cuts and Medicaid cuts and draconian student loan cuts in order to give a tax break to the wealthy. This year it is the same old song. It is coming back saying let us do it again. Last year, Speaker Gingrich shut the Government down in order to try to get his Medicaid cuts and Medicare cuts and student loan cuts and weakening environmental laws in order to give tax breaks to the rich. He shut down the Government trying to get his way, and clearly the voters and the people of this country said that is not the way it ought to be. He gave up and now he is trying it again. I cannot believe that we are going to have to go through this same debate. I hope that Speaker Gingrich is not going to go so far this year that he threatens a Government shutdown to make Medicare wither on the vine and in order to get Medicare and Medicaid and student loan cuts, because clearly the country does not want to see this health care program--30 years ago, 50 percent of the elderly in this country had no health insurance. Today, only 1 or 2 percent have no health insurance. It has been a success. We have to get costs under control, but we do not let the program wither on the vine. And on student loan cuts, it makes no sense because we as a nation have to compete globally.…”