Political Quotes

“Last Thursday was a bad day for democracy in the House of Representatives. Adding to their laundry list of legislative arm twisting, House Republicans once again bent democracy to fit their needs by holding a vote open for 38 minutes until they were able to change the outcome of the vote. Thursday was not an isolated incidence of arrogant disregard for the political process by Republican leadership in this Congress. It was an example of the modern-day Republican win-at-all-cost style of governance. This shameful record speaks for itself. Never before, when the Democrats were in control, when Newt Gingrich was Speaker with the Republicans in control, never before until the last year or so has the House of Representatives operated in such secrecy. At 2:54 a.m. on a Friday in March last year, the House cut veterans benefits by 3 votes. At 2:39 a.m. on a Friday in April last year, the House slashed education and health care by 5 votes. At 1:56 a.m. on a Friday in May, the House passed the leave no millionaire behind tax cut bill by a handful of votes. At 2:33 a.m. on a Friday in June, the House passed the Medicare privatization and prescription drug bill by one vote. At 12:57 a.m. on a Friday in July last year, the House eviscerated Head Start by one vote. And then after returning from summer recess at 12:12 a.m. on a Friday in October, the House voted $87 billion for Iraq.”