Political Quotes

“Mr. President, well, just like a bad movie, Congress finds itself within days of a government shutdown threat. Of course, this isn't an accident. This is a choice made by the majority leader in particular because, rather than take up the appropriations bills, which is the most basic responsibility of the government--to try to keep the lights on and keep the functions of government operating--the majority leader has decided not to process bipartisan appropriations bills across the Senate floor. And so here we are--portions of the Federal Government scheduled for a shutdown a week from tomorrow. This is not the first nor the second time we have found ourselves scrambling to avoid a shutdown in the past few months. You know, I wonder what the American people, when they watch this, must be thinking. They must be thinking: These folks can't run a two- car funeral. This is the very picture of incompetence. But the truth is, like I said, this is a choice. This marks the third time since the end of September that we have just been days away from the funding deadline without a plan in place. I personally find this embarrassing. And it is unnecessary drama because funding the government, as I said, is one of the most basic functions of the Congress. Congress has all year to prepare for the end of the fiscal year, which was the end of September. But here we are, 3\1/2\ months past the funding deadline, and not a single regular appropriations bill has been signed into law.…”