Political Quotes

“I am pleased to hear of yet another accomplishment that has happened in the Senate since we have gotten things opened up and functioning again. I wish to say that last year when Republicans were running for office, we promised that if we were reelected, we would get Washington working again for American families. That wasn't a campaign slogan; that was a commitment. I am proud to report that after 100 days in office, Republicans are making significant progress. To start, Republicans have the Senate functioning again on a basic level. From an operations standpoint day to day, over the past few years when the Democrats controlled the lawmaking process in the Senate, it largely ground to a halt. Instead of bills being drafted in committee and then brought to the floor for open debate and amendment, bills were crafted behind closed doors. Members in the minority party were shut out of the process, and so were many rank-and-file Democrats. Last year, Democratic leadership allowed a total of 15 amendment votes-- slightly over 1 amendment vote per month in the world's greatest deliberative body, known for unlimited amendment and unlimited debate. Contrast that with the first 100 days under Republican control. In the first 3\1/2\ months of the 114th Congress, the Republican-led Senate has held more than 100 amendment rollcall votes. More than half of those votes have been on Democratic amendments.…”