Political Quotes

“Texans woke up to stories like this one in today's Houston Chronicle that reports on something that is just ``unbelievable.'' On Wednesday, May 14, one day before the Texas legislative Democrats started returning to Austin, the Texas Department of Public Safety, DPS, ordered all records and photos gathered in the search for them to be destroyed. The order addressed to ``Captains'' states, ``Any notes, correspondence, photos, etc., that were obtained pursuant to the absconded House of Representatives members should be destroyed. No copies kept.'' Who originated this order, this destruction? Yesterday, Secretary Ridge again refused to release a full transcript and tape of the discussions between our DPS and the Department of Homeland Security. What are they hiding? Why is a law enforcement agency in Texas destroying records and a Federal agency refusing to release them? Were there political efforts to involve Federal law enforcement for purely political and partisan reasons? What are these agencies trying to cover up? It does not pass the smell test. While we have new international terrorist threats, a new high alert yesterday, we were looking for Texas Democrats last week. Secretary Ridge and the Department of Homeland Security are needlessly suffering a credibility gap. Mr. Speaker, if there is nothing incriminating or embarrassing on the tapes, then there is nothing to cover up. Release the tapes and all the records. Do not destroy them.”