Political Quotes

“conveniently omitted from today's discussion of antiterrorism legislation is what occurred on this floor in March of this year, the last time antiterrorism legislation was up for our consideration. At that time, under pressure from special interest lobby groups, a key provision was stripped from the antiterrorism legislation. The bill was ``eviscerated.'' That is not my word. It is the word of the very distinguished, and he is distinguished, Republican chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. I want to quote his remarks from that debate on March 13. He said, ``If the Barr amendment passes, we eviscerate the bill. It is a frail representation of what started out as a robust answer to the terrorist menace.'' A few minutes later he said, ``With the Barr amendment, this is not an antiterrorism bill.'' He was right. We have not had an antiterrorism bill this year. We had the opportunity today to join in a bipartisan effort and offer ideas from each side to deal with this national crisis, and it was rejected, denying us the opportunity to contribute our ideas. I think it was rejected because the same high-handedness and extremism that apparently led one Republican Member to say right here on the floor of the House, ``I trust Hamas more than I trust my own Government.'' When you have that kind of attitude, you cannot come together and work out reasonable solutions to fight terrorism. That is the opportunity that has been lost in this Congress.”