Political Quotes

“I would answer my colleague's question by saying that I think we are very definitely ready to go. We are particularly ready to go because of Senator Udall's achievement in securing the 60th vote, a filibuster-proof majority who are on this bill as cosponsors. That does not count people who are willing to vote for it. I think we always had 60 people voting for it, but to have 60 people willing to cosponsor it so it is clear from the get-go that if this bill is called up, it will get through. I think that is very important. There was some dispute on the Environment and Public Works Committee. We had a very lively hearing. I think the impact of that hearing caused people to go back and say: We really do need to improve this bill in some way. I commend Senator Merkley and Senator Booker for joining me in I guess a little mini ``Gang of 3'' to pull the bill to a place where we would all support it in the committee. That is part of how it got to 15 and 5. I think, since then, what Senator Udall has been able to accomplish is some of those 5 have now come over to join the 15. So to say that it is a 15-to-5 EPW committee-supported bill actually understates this support because of Senator Udall's continued work. There is one issue on which I want to make a particular point because I know both Senator Udall and I have served as attorney general of our States. We take this question of a sovereign State's ability to defend its own citizens very seriously.…”