Political Quotes

“the train wreck about which everyone is speaking these days is to occur if the Congress fails to pass the 13 appropriations bills, or having passed them, if the President of the United States vetoes them. Then we will have reached the point where, with no budget, the Government shuts down. This is an absolute crime against the people of the United States to allow its Government to shut down. What can we do about it? The train wreck requires two trains. All we have to do is stop, look, and listen, and take steps to avert the train wreck. We have those in place, if only we would utilize them. What are they, Mr. Speaker? No. 1, for almost every term since I have been here this same train wreck has loomed in the vision and the future of each Congress since 1980, I believe. What happens? When September 30 comes and no budget has been enacted, then the Congress engages in all kinds of legalistic and legislative contortions to keep the Government going until the next impasse should occur, with still a deadline that has not produced a budget.”