Political Quotes

“It is easy. If we do not want to do something, we can find a thousand reasons. If we want to do it, it is not hard to find a reason. Last time I checked, I have not heard anyone get up on this floor and say we should not send water and sewer money to our municipalities to clean them up because we might take control of it. They will find another way if they do not want to spend the dollars. But the truth is, if we want to do it, we can find a way to do it. The gentleman talked about the schools. And the truth is what we really are about in the whole litany of things is reforming, repairing, and renewing. The three R's. We have to reform and certainly go on about doing things. I really get frustrated, and I was out there 2 years ago when this Congress talked about doing away with the Department of Education and education was under assault, and both of the gentleman here were fighting to make sure we saved it, and we did. But my colleagues cannot imagine what that did for the morale of teachers and principals and people on the frontlines educating children. They just sort of tuned it out and kept working. They work hard every day. They are some of the hardest working people in our society today. And I think what we need to do is raise up the tremendous job they do and give them an uplift rather than beating them down.”