Political Quotes

“I thank my colleagues for their heartfelt remarks about the cuts in this bill that will immediately impact the retirements of American military. They are subject to recall, to Active Duty. They are expecting these payments. Other departments and agencies and government employees are not going to get their retirement reduced; only people who served in the military. It is not correct, and it should not happen. What I want to emphasize to all of my colleagues and highlight for us here today is that the legislation before us now was brought forth in a way that will not allow any amendments. If people have an idea about a problem with this legislation that was agreed to in secret by a couple of Senators--I suppose maybe some staff involved, so they agreed to this language. It is the first time we have seen it. It is the first time it has been before the light of day in the Senate, and we find problems with it, real problems. If people ask schoolchildren, if people ask senior citizens in America, if a bill hits the floor of the Senate and it has bad provisions in it, what can Senators do, well, they will say that Senators offer an amendment and they fix it. Isn't that what we were taught? Isn't that what the history of the Senate is all about? It is a place where people can debate and amend and improve legislation. But we are in an odd and unusual circumstance--not so odd in recent years.…”