Ted Cruz

This body has repeatedly failed to pass the DISCLOSE Act, because a substantial number of members of this body believe it is unconstitutional and bad policy.

I would note, as you and I visited privately, this is the one issue that, in my opinion, has the potential to derail your nomination.

My top priority is economic growth. And critical to economic growth is regulatory reform, reducing the burdens of Federal regulation on small businesses, on job creation.

I asked each of those two nominees if they would commit... to identifying at least three existing Federal regulations that should be modified or repealed because they're impeding job creation.

It is my view that the Federal Government should own or control as little spectrum as possible, consistent with national security and law enforcement needs.

I think getting rid of the telegraph rules makes a lot of sense.

There is no more solemn obligation we have than to stand up for and protect the men and women who have stepped forward to join our military.

When somebody says I will put my life on the line and I will risk death to go in harm's way, but I don't know whether I want to risk a culture that has allowed this to grow so much, that is a very serious concern.

But they are not putting themselves willingly at risk to assault or violence from their superiors, from their colleagues, from other Americans.

I tend to agree with the line of questioning that Senator Gillibrand and others were pursuing that one of the main issues here is this fear of reporting.

So, when people look at the military and they see these stories about sexual assault, it is not just affecting their view about the military. It weakens their confidence in our Nation.

If they look at Congress and they feel like we don't treat each other civilly or we are too gridlocked, it doesn't just affect their view about Congress. It affects their view about our country.

And in particular the debt ceiling was not contained in the budget, it was not debated in the budget, it is not part of the budget, and the only question here--we could have gone to conference 60 days ago if the Democrats had simply agreed…

I would suggest that unanimous consent is used to circumvent the regular order----

So if I understand correctly, we are agreed now this is not the regular order. The Senate is not following the regular order that would have been taking up the House budget resolution and voting on that. That is not what is being pursued…

I thank my friend from Illinois, and I would ask him, if the position he is championing is the regular order, then why is it the Democrats are asking unanimous consent to set aside the regular order to go to conference? The only reason…

We finally got the House to agree to push them up to $7 billion.

I have been disappointed that in my judgment the current Administration has been less than vigorous in pursuing free trade.

The first thing we passed after 9/11 in this country, the first law was embarrassing.

In my view, Federal Government ownership of assets, be they spectrum, be they land, or anything else, should be the minimum necessary to protect our critical national interests.

I hope that if you are confirmed that you can provide a voice in this Administration for pulling back the regulations that I think are so damaging to economic growth and in killing jobs.

I think that is the most critical element to ensuring our long-term strength and also expanding the opportunity in this country for the least well off among us to climb the economic ladder and to achieve the American Dream.

It is utterly unacceptable for this Justice Department to refuse to prosecute felons and fugitives who attempt to illegally purchase firearms.

I find it remarkable that you testified to this Committee that it is a 'major priority' of the Department of Justice to prosecute felons and fugitives who attempt to illegally purchase firearms.

With our vote, but also to defend the ability to have our vote matter, to have it make a difference. Because if this procedural trick is allowed to go forward, what it would mean--this fight right now is the fight over the debt ceiling…