Political Quotes

“Unrelated, partisan riders often have received scorn in the past. In 2008, for example, now- Speaker Boehner mentioned his strong distaste, stating: ``Attaching these riders is the sort of stunt that has made Americans extremely cynical about Washington.'' But when finally agreeing to vote on a payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans, this bill is riddled with riders. Preventative health care, for example, improves wellness and lowers costs. When provided the opportunity for free preventative services, 70 percent of Medicare recipients enrolled. But this bill cuts that care. Why? It's a rider. What do payroll tax cuts and shipping more gasoline to China have in common? Republican Senator Lindsey Graham acknowledged this political gamesmanship saying: ``I think we should debate the Keystone pipeline, and we should debate tax policy separately.'' Sadly, it's another rider in this bill. Finally, Republicans included a poison pill with actual poison-- mercury, arsenic, and other toxins. What does gutting the Clean Air Act have to do with payroll tax cuts? Nothing. It's a rider. I strongly support extending the payroll tax cut to help 160 million Americans; but first we need to cut the partisan riders.”