Political Quotes

“surely it is a true mark of success when the same Republican leadership allows this bill to reach the floor after they refused to respond years ago with genuine change, and, even after the Enron fiasco, they rejected strong new laws, and who only a few hours ago this very week were trying to mangle the determined reform efforts of the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) and Mr. Sarbanes. ``Success,'' by this measure, yes. But for those who are about to retire and now see their retirement account vanished, for those who saved to support a young person obtaining a worthwhile college degree and now have only worthless securities, for those who labored in their jobs and find themselves jobless, this success comes a little too late to celebrate. They cannot even afford the champagne cork to pop. For thousands of Americans, an ounce of prevention from Congress that would have truly ensured a vigilant public watchdog instead of a toothless lapdog for corporate wrongdoers would have been worth much more than this belated pound of cure that comes long after so many have suffered so very severely. They can justifiably ask this Congress, ``Where were you when we needed you?''”