Political Quotes

“Thank you. Madam Speaker, I apologize. I was in my office and listening to the debate. I heard my distinguished senior Republican rise in reluctant opposition to the bill. I had had a conversation which Mr. Terry was not aware of with the chairman of the committee, Mr. Waxman, in which I expressed the same concerns that Mr. Terry expressed, but because of the policy implications of the bill, agreed that it should be supported. I told him that I would encourage the Republicans on the committee and in the full House to support it. Mr. Terry did not know that, and he was doing what we had decided before I talked to Mr. Waxman. I would not normally rush to the floor; but given that I had given my word to Chairman Waxman, I felt the necessity to express to the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Boucher, that while we agree with all the process arguments that Mr. Terry enunciated and think they are very valid, the policy in the bill is good policy, and I would ask that it be supported for that reason. I thank the gentleman from Nebraska for yielding.”