Political Quotes

On the recordMarch 17, 2016
Mr. Speaker, the issue in this case actually implicates the very existence of the House. The law is the reason we exist. We do not exist to pass ideas or to pass suggestions. We make law with the corresponding expectation that that law will be enforced, respected, and executed. We do so because the law is the thread that holds the tapestry of this country together. It is the most unifying, equalizing force that we have. It makes the rich respect the poor, and it allows the powerless to challenge the powerful. Attempts to undermine the law, Mr. Speaker, regardless of the motivation, are detrimental to the social order. In 2014, President Obama declared unilaterally that almost 5 million unlawful immigrants would receive deferred action under some tortured definition of ``prosecutorial discretion.'' I can't help but note the word ``discretion'' means sometimes you say yes, and sometimes you say no. But, of course, the administration has never said no. The Court found not a single time has the administration said no. So that is not prosecutorial discretion, Mr. Speaker. That is lawlessness. You may like what the President did. I take it from some of the speakers that they do, and you may actually wish what the President did was actually law. You may wish--Mr. Speaker, you may wish that when Democrats controlled the House, the Senate, and the White House for 2 years that they had lifted a finger to do a single, solitary thing about what they are talking about this morning.…
Said by
Trey Gowdy
Republican · South Carolina

Share & report

More from Trey Gowdy

Nov 27, 2017

Now NIH needs, I think, to be a fair broker in all this so that the right compounds get the right money spent on them to develop them.

congress.gov
Oct 11, 2017

What would be even worse than unexpectedly high cost is unexpectedly high cost coupled with less-than-full success.

congress.gov
Oct 11, 2017

You come across as an authentic person.

congress.gov
Dec 12, 2017

I am not talking about people convicted of violent offenses. I am not talking about people being convicted of crimes against children.

congress.gov

Other voices in this conversation