Political Quotes

“I cannot tell my colleagues that this is the provision that I would have written had I been given the grace to have articulated the best, wisest policy with reference to depot maintenance. This provision in the bill is not, in my view, the wisest and the best. It does reflect the will of the subcommittee by an overwhelming vote. It also reflects changes from the original proposal of the Depot Caucus which they made, at my request, in order to improve what is in the bill. Looking at this very difficult issue in balance, I would ask the committee to support the bill as it comes to the floor and to reject the amendment that has been offered. This issue is one of the most contentious issues which will be dealt with in the conference that is coming between this body and the other body. Certainly I hope and believe that this will be improved upon as we go through that process. I can assure my colleagues that I will be working to do that but in a way which protects the legitimate concerns of those who represent areas which have government-owned and operated maintenance depots.”