Political Quotes

“Madam President, I know there are others waiting to speak, and I will be brief. I want to take a couple of minutes to reflect on what just happened on the Senate floor. We had a bipartisan bill that was shepherded through the Energy Committee by the chair, Senator Murkowski, and the ranking member, Senator Cantwell. Because our colleagues from Michigan refused to take yes for an answer--objecting to a vote on their very amendment--the Democratic caucus has come together and brought down this bipartisan bill--killing it, at least for the time being. I share the majority leader's hope that discussions can continue and cooler, more reasonable minds will prevail, rather than just the gamesmanship that, frankly, frustrates all of us and gives Congress a bad name. We know that the vote that just went down was not about the Energy bill. This was about trying to embarrass Republicans and to try to make us look bad and portray us as having no compassion for the poor people of Flint--which is exactly the opposite of true. The fact is that Senator Murkowski, who is the bill manager and chairman of the Energy Committee, made an offer for a vote on a $550 million package--a $550 million package. The Senator from Michigan has asked for a check for $600 million, but Senator Murkowski, in good faith, trying to be responsible, offered them an alternative of a $550 million package, and they refused it, instead choosing to bring down this legislation.…”