Political Quotes

“I want to begin by agreeing with my friend from Massachusetts on a very important point, but perhaps adding a little bit of nuance. I celebrate, probably as much as anybody in this Chamber, my friend's and his side of the aisle's newfound commitment to regular order. When they were in the majority here, they certainly didn't practice it. As a matter of fact, in 2009, I think only one or two appropriations bills reached the floor. During that period, the right of having an open rule, where every Member with an amendment could come down and offer it in the House, was taken away by my friend. Again, I appreciate that. My friend and I will disagree about what happened this year, because, indeed, we did begin down the path of regular order, we did bring six bills across the floor, we did bring all 12 bills through the committee. But, as my friend said, the Senate did not do that. Frankly, when regular order breaks down on one side of the rotunda in the Capitol building, it breaks down on the other as well. You can't keep bringing bills down when the other side simply won't bring bills at all. You are wasting a lot of time and you are casting a lot of votes that, frankly, become meaningless. Let us put this behind us. I actually agree with my friend. I think because of the bipartisan budget agreement, which my friend supported, and I supported as well, we now know what our spending levels will be next year.…”