Political Quotes

On the recordMarch 12, 2014
Mr. Chairman, clearly as my colleagues have noted, the ENFORCE Act is a deeply flawed piece of legislation. It would give any legislative majority a blank check to challenge in court by filing a lawsuit any decision of the executive branch that it disagrees with. Instead of considering legislation to create jobs, to fix our broken immigration system, repair our crumbling infrastructure or raise the minimum wage, today the majority has brought to this floor a partisan measure to increase only one thing: congressional litigation. The bill raises serious constitutional questions, and fails to put in place responsible safeguards to prevent abuse. This is a dangerous attack that threatens the careful balance of power developed by our Founding Fathers. At a time when the American people have lost so much confidence in Congress, my Republican colleagues are offering yet another bill that will do nothing to improve the lives of Americans. Instead this bill will only add to the American people's scorn and ridicule of Congress. Just what we need, more contention, more division here in Congress by encouraging congressional lawsuits. In addition to its questionable purpose and substantive defects, the ENFORCE Act also fails to adequately protect taxpayer money, as it would open the floodgates to litigation for nearly any executive branch decision that a majority in either chamber disagrees with, and it would do so without a transparent accounting of taxpayer money spent.…
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David Cicilline
Democratic · Rhode Island

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