Political Quotes

“I do not wish to speak on the amendment. I wish to speak on the bill. First, I have great respect for the chairman of the committee and the ranking member. I understand this is one of the toughest jobs we have, trying to draft a highway bill which everybody thinks is fair. I suggest it is an impossible task because someone is going to benefit and someone is not. All we can do as Members is try to make our case as to why our respective States should be treated in a manner that befits its condition. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we have historically benefited from the Federal highway program. We have benefited in the sense that more money comes to our State than we have paid in taxes to the Federal highway fund. I would make the argument that is as it should be. Of course, every Senator will stand up and say that is as it should be, everyone should be a donee State and, of course, that is impossible to do. The question is, Why should States be donor States and why should States be donee States? I will give my rationale, which I think is the rationale underpinning the whole reason the Federal Government gets involved with highway programs.”