Political Quotes

“in the fall of 1990, while our fellow young Americans were being amassed in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, musket in hand, prepared to do battle when Desert Storm was about to erupt, the Government of the United States shut down. I ask the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Moakley] to recall with me, if he will, that here we are in Desert Shield, young Americans poised to do battle, and the Government of the United States shuts down. A Democrat Congress and a Republican President failed to agree on a budget and the Government shut down, while our young American colleagues, fellow citizens, are ready to do battle in Saudi Arabia. Mr. Speaker, it is disgraceful to contemplate even the possibility of the Government of the United States shutting down. It was organized and set into motion in 1789, and it was built to last forever. So long as time shall last, this Government of ours should never shut down. Yet, the people who oppose this rule actually favor the possibility of the Government shutting down. That is appalling to me. The CR that is part of the rule on which we are now passing consideration would guarantee that no shutdown would occur because of lack of will on the part of the Congress and the President to negotiate and agree to a final budget. Mr. Speaker, I ask every Member to consider this as a good government bill.”