Political Quotes

“Madam President, the protection for the children is now found in the proposal, in the amendment at the desk--the one that was just objected to by my friend and colleague, the Senator from Illinois. I would ask my colleague rhetorically or directly, as he may choose: If, in fact, he is unwilling and remains unwilling to negotiate on any bill addressing this problem without increasing the total number of employment-based green cards, why in the world did he waste months of my time? Why did he lead me to believe, while in his office, that he was open to such an agreement that was, in fact, the premise upon which we proceeded? We spent months on that, and I worked in good faith. As I mentioned yesterday, it was against my better judgment that I agreed to announce with the Senator on the Senate floor that we had reached an agreement because I knew that we had to work out a few kinks, but I proceeded based solely on the feasibility and our ability to implement that bill. That was the only change that we made. Now, if the Senator wants to make some adjustment to that, bring it forward. I would love to consider it. Yet what he is now telling me is that the premise upon which we proceeded on those negotiations and then spent weeks and months working on was false in that the whole premise that we could reach some sort of compromise--an actual compromise--that wouldn't increase the number of total green cards available was illusory. I find that disappointing.”