John Thune

I would vote for an amendment that you would offer that would fix that particular situation for Captain Colburn.

I think we ought to fund the National Guard and Reserve.

And I do not disagree at all that this should be handled in the normal appropriations process.

I think we have to acknowledge that there are--when you come up here and talk about funding deficiencies for specific agencies and programs, there are bills that have come over here that would fund many of those agencies and many of those…

We can't ignore the both immediate and the longer term impacts of having the government shut down, but we also can't ignore the problems that precipitated the current crisis.

That is not a responsible way to operate an enterprise like the U.S. Government.

What I really think is a hijacking effort by the Tea Party folks.

I would rather have people back at work, particularly in some of these essential areas.

But isn't having some funding better than having no funding?

We are on--I guess we're in the middle of what really is, should be, an avoidable partial government shutdown that nobody wants, but nobody seems willing or able to end.

The complete lack of business sense from those who say you can start and stop an enterprise and that doesn’t cost more is so divorced from economic reality it is stunning.

Isn't it better to have some funding than no funding?

We end up at the eleventh hour grasping to find a solution to try and solve a problem, and everybody's weighing the political impact of how this, who is going to benefit, who is going to lose.

I would also say one of the incredible ironies is the House has passed and I know the Senate, in whatever final agreement will pass, that our Federal workers will get compensated.

I think we can do much better, and if we did follow regular order, do the budget, do the appropriation bills the way they're supposed to be done, we wouldn't find ourselves in this situation.

I would ask any who want to keep the government shut, tell us what parts of the government you want to keep shut.

I would be happy to yield when I have concluded my remarks, on the time of the Senator from Rhode Island.

Reserving the right to object, as the Senator from Illinois has already pointed out, that has already passed in the Senate. What he is suggesting is already in the House, not being acted on. What the Senate can act on is legislation that…

The middle class has been hit hard by the Obama economy. Unemployment remains above 7 percent. Middle-class incomes have fallen, as I said, by over $3,000 since the President took office. Unfortunately, the President's health care and…

Thank you, Chairman Warner and Ranking Member Blunt, for holding this subcommittee hearing. And I want to thank our witnesses for being here today, and for their testimony.

I just don't think money ought to be diverted from the Highway Trust Fund to help pay for some of these funding mechanisms.

I'm a big advocate of maintaining our nation's infrastructure.

I'm cautious as we enter the space to want to impose any kind of obligations on bidding eligibility.

I wrote every telecommunications company asking them not to delay the E-Rate program or to take it to court.

Like many of my Republican colleagues, I believe the FCC should allow all qualified and interested parties to participate freely in spectrum auctions, rather than micromanaging auction rules in an effort to predetermine individual winners…