Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, across the world, this is a special time of the year, and we have our traditions here in Washington. One of them is underway at this moment in the House. It is called the ceremony of the stuffing of the silk stockings. We do it each year, and we do it generously. This bill is even referred to as a ``Christmas tree bill'' because special interests get special presents, ``ornaments'' on this tree. Much of the focus this year has been the fact that the direct spending bill and the tax spending bill are considered under this same rule. The press has focused most of its attention on the direct spending bill, the Omnibus. While there has been some debate over some of the policy provisions, it has really been the sideshow here. What has driven the length of debate on this are Republicans--and some Democrats who have enabled them, unfortunately--determined to get as many permanent tax breaks as possible for those who have been waiting for this Christmas tree. They have added hundreds of billions of dollars of permanent tax breaks onto this bill. {time} 1000 I must say, like many shoppers out there, they have put it all on the credit card. It is just that it is your credit card. We are borrowing from the Chinese, from the Saudis, around the world, in order to pay for tax breaks for which not a penny has been paid. That is total fiscal irresponsibility.…”