Political Quotes

“We did. It passed on the floor to put felony provisions for people who would transport these fighting birds, and also to export fighting dogs. What happened in the agriculture conference committee is that the penalty provisions that would have closed the loophole were gutted. It went back to a misdemeanor, so it would not be enforced, even though identical provisions passed both the House and Senate. Even these watered-down provisions are not going to go into effect for another year. Now I use this just as one example, a little tiny example, that shows where the will of the House and the Senate, identical provisions, and something, frankly, that the American public would have even greater penalty provisions in, it would go farther, they read it in. They cut it back. They gutted it. It is nothing in terms of the damage that would be done as far as the American taxpayer is concerned. The gentleman is absolutely correct, and I appreciate it and was pleased to join with the gentleman on the floor in his efforts to put a cap on those payments here in the House. The gentleman is right, 265 Members voted to instruct, to have the Senate's $275,000 payment limit. Lo and behold, we get a bill back, it is the new $360,000 limit, and all sorts of problems and additional aspects to this that actually make that illusory. We see example after example where this agriculture bill is a missed opportunity.”