Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and ranking member of the Financial Services Committee, Mr. Frank and Mr. Bachus; my colleague and member of the Financial Services Committee, Mrs. Biggert; as well as Leaders Hoyer and Boehner for their assistance in expediting the consideration of this measure. When an attorney receives funds for use on behalf of a client, those funds are usually deposited in a trust account at some financial institution. Many years ago, leaders in the legal community across America determined that interest could be earned on such accounts and applied to finance legal services for those who otherwise might have no access to our justice system. They recognized, as we do today, the wisdom of Judge Learned Hand's writing: ``If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment--thou shall not ration justice.'' For decades, revenue from these Interest on Lawyer's Trust Accounts, or IOLTAs as they are commonly referred to, have provided a key funding source for the disadvantaged in all 50 States. Before coming to Congress, I served as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court, which sets forth the rules and oversees the operation of such IOLTA accounts in my State. {time} 1930 I saw firsthand the benefits of these programs in ensuring access to justice for those who otherwise might be unable to secure justice.…”