Political Quotes

“yesterday when the President of the United States addressed the American people, he was very clear about what a shutdown would mean. He said: Office buildings would close. Paychecks would be delayed. Vital services that seniors and veterans, women and children, businesses and our economy depend on would be hamstrung. Business owners would see delays in raising capital, seeking infrastructure permits or rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. Veterans, who have sacrificed for their country, will find their support centers unstaffed. Tourists will find every one of America's national parks and monuments, from Yosemite to the Smithsonian to the Statue of Liberty, immediately closed. And of course, the communities and small businesses that rely on these national treasures for their livelihoods will be out of customers and out of luck. I share the President's concerns about what will happen to the American people--about ``real people,'' as one of my colleagues put it yesterday--during and in connection with a government shutdown. I wish to focus our attention in the coming hours and days on these people. I think it is also important that we continue to focus as well on those who are already hurting--hurting for reasons that don't have to do with the shutdown.…”