Political Quotes

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I still call you ``Mr. Chairman,'' though the formal leadership of the committee has changed with the change in the majority here in the House. And I guess if you were in fact still the chairman with full authority we would not be here, nor would there be any unemployed individual in the United States among the millions whose benefits would expire next year who would be wondering the night before Christmas what would happen the day after their unemployment coverage expired next year. We face a great challenge, and as you have been pointing out in describing individuals like Jessie, a retired--not voluntarily retired, but retired, removed from the workforce by unemployment in San Antonio, these are very real human beings, not just unemployment statistics. With over 6 million fewer jobs than when the recession began and more than four workers competing for every job opening, too many Americans have nowhere to go. They are like the lyrics from that working man song of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Had me a job until the market fell out; Tried hard to borrow, but there was no help. Now I've got nowhere to go. I need a job for these two hands; I'm a working man with nowhere to go.…”