Political Quotes

“Mr. President, following the longest government shutdown in history earlier this year, it seemed to be a bipartisan consensus that we need to get back on track with the regular appropriations process. Both parties knew there was a funding crisis at stake this fall if we could not come together and reach a compromise, so this summer, that is exactly what we did--or at least we thought we did. At the time we reached an agreement that set top-line funding levels for defense and nondefense spending, there was a promise not to derail the appropriations process with poison-pill policy riders, and we got it done in August with plenty of time to spare. It wasn't perfect. No negotiated product ever is, but we knew this agreement would provide us the time and the space and the framework to get the appropriations process back on track and leave room for necessary debate on government spending habits. As our national deficit continues to grow, that could not be more critical. I actually remember a time when concern about the deficit and debt was a bipartisan concern, but apparently, it is not currently. Before we hit the first funding deadline, our Democratic colleagues backed out of the commitment they made in August of 2019. The open debate we hoped for did not happen.…”