Political Quotes

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. It is a little frustrating as we watch these disparate subjects lumped together on the floor with truncated debate. I want to speak to just one element that we are discussing here today, and that deals with the extension of transportation funding. The passage of this bill will represent the 34th short-term extension of the surface transportation bill. What country became great building its infrastructure 8 months at a time? 6 months at a time? a year at a time? It is a failure on the part of Congress to be able to understand that you cannot pay for 2015 infrastructure needs with 1993 dollars-- the last time we adjusted the user fee, the gas tax that supports the highway trust fund. {time} 1645 I do see a little tiny glimmer of daylight with the 3-month extension. I have personally been urging the President to indicate that this is the last extension that he will sign. The House Ways and Means Committee could pass a funding measure in a week if we would roll up our sleeves. We have legislation there that is supported by the U.S. Chamber, AFL-CIO, by truckers, transit, the AAA, a wide array of people who say: Step up, raise our user fee, fund the transportation system, and do it right. We used to have the finest infrastructure in the world. Now, we are about 25th in the world and falling further.…”