Political Quotes

“the December 6 House vote on Presidential Trade Promotion Authority continued a sad string of hard-edge partisan votes since September 11 and the loss of an historic opportunity to move to a new era of trade. The pattern was established when the leadership took the legitimate need for stabilizing the airline industry and rushed through a program to lavishly reward airlines, but with no consideration of the needs of American workers. The antiterrorism legislation, produced unanimously by the Committee on the Judiciary in the House, was rejected in favor of a narrow, more partisan alternative that did not even have a hearing. The economic stimulus bill was shoe-horned through by a single vote. Its package of corporate tax breaks, with no connection to investment or economic growth, has been roundly criticized by liberals and conservatives alike. Even legislation to stabilize the insurance industry was hijacked by other ideological and political agendas. The trade promotion legislation fell victim to this same treatment when the House Republican leadership prevented any effort to resolve other legitimate concerns, with the active support, sadly, of the Bush administration, instead focusing on advancing partisan political objectives.”