Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I do not believe that Members of Congress should receive a pay raise, and that is why I am voting for this bill. However, today's bill isn't just a vote on whether or not to freeze salaries for Members of Congress. The second part of this legislation extends the pay freeze for federal employees for a third consecutive year. This gives me serious pause. These issues should not be tied together. There should be one vote on Member salaries and a separate vote on extending the pay freeze for federal employees. I am concerned that the language in this bill pertaining to federal employees' pay has not been considered through the normal process. I'm not arguing that freezing Members' salaries needs a hearing. That's obvious. Freezing our pay doesn't need to be vetted. Federal employees are the issue. This bill has been rushed to the floor less than a week after being introduced. No hearings have been held. Only 40 minutes of debate are being allowed. No amendments are permitted. Has anyone fully considered the impact that a three-year pay freeze will have on the CIA, the NSA, the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Counter Terrorism Center? Or the impact on the FBI, which has, since 9/11, disrupted scores of terrorist plots against our country? Or the impact on our military, which is supported by federal employees every day on military bases across the Nation?…”