Political Quotes

“first let me thank Chairman Obey, Speaker Pelosi and Chairwoman Slaughter for their countless hours and their leadership on this very difficult task. I am opposed to giving this President over $160 billion with no strings attached to continue the disastrous war and occupation in Iraq. This is the biggest blank check ever. Ever. The war and occupation in Iraq has put our country and economy in a hole, and when you are in a hole, you have got to stop digging in deeper and climb your way out. You don't dig yourself deeper in. Today that means funding the safe and responsible redeployment of our American troops and contractors out of Iraq. The Lee amendment that I offered would have accomplished that. There is no way, no way, I will vote to continue funding any combat operations in Iraq. This funding needs to end. What the Lee amendment proposed was not to cut off funding for our troops, but to provide for their safe and responsible redeployment out of Iraq. Although the supplemental retains one restriction that I have long championed, the prohibition against the establishment of permanent military bases in Iraq, it does not include the other indispensable condition, prohibiting the President from unilaterally binding the United States to an agreement with the government of Iraq that includes security assistance for mutual defenses without coming to Congress.”