Political Quotes

“Today we are at the start of a new Congress, and every new Congress provides the opportunity for a fresh start of the work we do on behalf of the American people. Congratulations to our newly elected Members and congratulations to our returning elected Members. It is appropriate at this moment, at the start of a new, 2-year Congress, that we ponder how to make this institution work for the American people, work well within our constitutional framework and our responsibility for advice and consent on nominations, and work well in terms of our responsibility for legislation that will address the big issues facing our Nation. Since I came to the Senate in 2009, it has been a pleasure to work with my colleague from New Mexico. My colleague from New Mexico came to the Senate from the House. I came here from the State of Oregon but with memories of how the Senate worked many years before when I first came to the Senate as an intern in 1976. I must say, in the 1970s, this body worked very much in the manner that one might anticipate. A bill was put forward. There was no filibuster of a motion to proceed. The bill was debated. A group of Senators would be ready to call upon the President of the Senate to submit their amendment. Whoever was called on first--that amendment was debated. That amendment was debated, and in a short period of time it was voted on and then the Senators would vie for the opportunity to present the next amendment.…”