Political Quotes

“That is the amazing thing. This bill that has come up-- that will come up tomorrow, I guess--never went to committee. In fact, it was kind of just sprung on us on Monday, and they didn't even get the language straight until maybe Tuesday. Madam Speaker, in the Congress, we generally have committee meetings. You have a hearing on a bill almost always--that is what committees are for, is to have hearings--sometimes by a subcommittee and then, later, by a full committee--and a markup, sometimes by the subcommittee, always at least by the full committee. Then it goes to the Rules Committee, and then it comes to the floor. When this Congress came about, the majority party made a big deal about how they were going to come in and change the way things were done and how there was going to be regular order. Bills weren't going to be brought to the floor without any notice; committees would do their work; amendments would be offered; and people would get an opportunity to testify from the public. This bill was given no markup in committee, no hearing in committee, no opportunity for the public to voice any concerns as to whether they were for it or against it, and no Congresspeople on the committee had a chance to voice their concerns. In essence, it was sprung on the public. The bill will have a new definition of ``abortion''--unknown before in Federal law.…”