Political Quotes

“The bill before us today is a perfect example of why it is dangerous to produce a deal in secret and rush it through on the floor of Congress in a panic, as we have done time and time again. This bill is a perfect example of why we need regular order, why the Senate is supposed to be a deliberative body that debates and amends legislation--there is no amendment being allowed to this legislation-- and why each Senator is supposed to have a chance to have their say and offer amendments to the bill. Each Senator in this Chamber, Republican and Democrat, is being diminished if they are not allowed to have an amendment on an important piece of legislation such as this. I was astonished to hear earlier that we have no choice but to pass this bill exactly as it is, that there is no other alternative. What about letting the Senate work its will, I suggest. Could we not find 51 Senators who could have agreed on a better way to save money than to cut retired military personnel, a cut that was used to increase spending in other areas, some of which is clearly not more significant than the cuts falling on military retired personnel? We learn after the House has passed the bill, that also includes a cut to the pensions of wounded warriors and--I suspect most House Members didn't realize that, as my friend from Mississippi has pointed out. We were blocked yesterday from having a vote, and it looks as if we will continue to be blocked.…”