Pete Sessions

I remember when I was a U.S. attorney in Alabama, I got a call from an educator who was looking at their school textbook and discovered it asked a question about amending the Constitution. The first section stated that you amend it…

Well, with regard to Madison, that father of the Constitution and a man I admire, he set up coequal branches and he expected each one to be a check and a balance on the other. Would not the Senator expect that Madison would have expected…

Is it not true, based on his experience, that even the House and the Senate defend amongst themselves their prerogatives and do not the House and the Senate defend their own power against the executive and does not the executive branch…

I do not want to demean or speak down about any relationship or any persons and the choices they make. But let's say this. Statistically speaking, do fathers and mothers both make different contributions to the health and development of a…

Isn't there evidence, based on the data we have heard and seen, that there is a rational, foundational basis for a government to affirm the traditional marriage as opposed to other relationships in society?

Dr. Wade Horn, from the Department of Health and Human Services, who testified before my committee, says that any welfare reform we pass must help strengthen marriage because without marriage, poverty is increased.

No, I think the Senator made a very critical point, and that is there is no room to suggest that those of us who read the Supreme Court opinion of the United States, who watch what is happening in Massachusetts, who have seen what is…

If the Supreme Court found, as they indicated that they may in the case of Lawrence v. Texas, that marriage under the Due Process or Equal Protection clauses of the Constitution has to include same-sex marriages rather than just the…

If California passed it with 90 percent of the vote, or 60 percent, as I believe they did pass a statute by ballot initiative, no matter what the people voted, it would be trumped and wiped out by the ruling.

I believe it would cover at least a good bit of the United States against a Middle Eastern threat, and it could be effective against other threats. But, obviously, the main threat at this point--the ultimate goal is to provide a system…

For some reason, the media or whatever, created an image--and some of the speeches on this floor nurtured that image--that President Bush created this economic slowdown that occurred. But as I remember, and I ask the Senator is it not…

I was going to suggest for the lobbyists, it is time to bring that to an end. As some wise person told me in Alabama, they exist to blame the politicians if they close the base, and to claim credit if it is not closed.

Mr. Speaker, we began this debate today by talking about doing the things the Republican Party has as an idea and a vision, about making businesses more efficient and effective and working closer on the things that will encourage not only…

I believe people who are injured ought to be compensated. It was discovered that manufacturers of asbestos knew at some point before they told people who were working on it that it was dangerous. And they should have told them it was…

Has not the question of fault always been the cornerstone of American law with regard to lawsuits and negligence and liability, that somebody has to be at fault, have done something beyond the standard of care to cause a damage? That is…

What has evolved in America is that we believe we are a society of victims, everybody is a victim? If somebody is wrong in my life, if I have a bad outcome in my life, it must be somebody else's fault. So beyond the obvious abuse of the…

I regret that we are dealing with this particular bill today because it does not address any real problem. This is a bill that corrects a problem that does not exist. These lawsuits that people are complaining about with regard to obesity…

I know Senator Nickles talked about the economy and who is responsible. We can all debate how much the President actually has influence over it. I don't know. But when President Roosevelt took office, there was a high unemployment rate. I…

If the dealer handed a customer a gun that was loaded, perhaps that dealer could be held liable. I think probably they should. The dealer should have checked before they handed it to them. But I don't think you want a circumstance where…

Two questions there. One is the existing lawsuit question. The Senator makes a legitimate point and expresses a legitimate concern. Frankly, I am not sure it is fully meritorious, but he certainly raises a legitimate concern. The second…

The Senator's position is this--if someone polluted your water so you can't drink it, and did so to the required degree of negligence and liability, they are responsible for it and should pay. The question is, What if you didn't do…

The person who caused the action, made the house uninhabitable, that is who should pay; not the person who made the substance.

I didn't say the home. I understand the water smells. Is the Senator aware of any report that says MTBE is a cancer-causing substance?

With regard to that matter, Attorney General Pryor did file a brief on behalf of Judge Moore and argued that the Ten Commandments were legitimate because there are three depictions of the Ten Commandments in the Supreme Court. And right on…

It is absolutely following the law. There are a host of other examples to a degree I have never seen before in America. Bill Pryor always does what he believes the law compels him to do. Many times it is something he does not personally…