Political Quotes

“I rise to address the Republican filibuster attacking the American worker and the Republican filibuster attacking America's small businesses. I had the chance to go home this weekend. I started my trip home in Deschutes County where there is 14 percent unemployment. Next door to Deschutes, Crook County has 16.8 percent unemployment. That is only counting workers officially unemployed as opposed to those who have given up on finding jobs. I went down to Klamath County to the south, with 12.6 percent unemployment. I went to Hood River and Columbia Gorge, Washington County, the Portland metropolitan area. Everywhere I went in Oregon, whether it be eastern or western or north or south-- because I was in every quarter this weekend--citizens wanted to know why are the Republicans attacking the American worker and American small business? Across this country, our working families are in trouble. They are looking to this body for help. They want to know when are we going to get it done. And by 'it,' they mean extension of unemployment benefits. They want to know when are we going to get extended the COBRA health benefits. They want to know when we are going to fix the Medicare rates that changed today and dropped more than 20 percent so that it is that much harder to get into the door of a doctor if you are a senior. They want to know why transportation projects are grinding to a halt, even though we need those jobs. The answer lies in this Chamber.…”