Political Quotes

“Madam President, I have been listening carefully to what concerns people have, and I have to remind everyone that it was June 24--June 24--that we passed this bill out of committee. We had been working on this bill for months before that. All of us realize that between the last bill we had, which was a multiyear bill in 2005--that we then had a 5-year bill, and since that expired at the end of 2009, we have had nothing but extensions. Those extensions cost 30 percent off the top just because short-term extensions don't work. But we went ahead, and we passed a bill. The reason I am optimistic that if we can get this to the House they will sign it is because that wasn't a problem at all when it went to the House the last time. We showed them that the cost of the bill is far less--the conservative position. That was with 33 Members of the House on the transportation and infrastructure committee. So all of the Republicans and all of the Democrats on their committee voted for it. Those same Democrats and Republicans over there would support this. I think the reason they came out originally for a shorter term bill was to pack it in with some other things they wanted to get passed. But I have yet to talk to the first Member of the House who doesn't say: If you bring us a multiyear bill, we will sign it. So I think that is a moot statement. I think that will happen, and we are willing to stay here until it does happen. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.”