Political Quotes

“first, let me thank my colleagues for being here this morning. I am pleased to join this effort. I want to particularly thank my colleague from Missouri, who has been a relentless voice on opening up and bringing a little sunshine to not only this issue but a lot of things that go on here that maybe make some of our colleagues a little uncomfortable, but she is constantly being that voice and pushing and prodding and trying to make sure we improve the process. I also want to thank my colleague, the Senator from Oklahoma, who--as I think the Senator from Missouri said--we may not always agree with, but there are very few Members in this body who are more straightforward and honest about what they believe in and are more consistent, which probably frustrates some of us. But he is absolutely consistent in what he believes and he holds our feet to the fire. I commend him for bringing forward his holds and being willing to step up and explain them. Like the Presiding Officer, I am a new guy here. But unlike so many of my colleagues, I have never been a legislator. I was a business guy for a number of years and I had the honor of serving as Governor. Quite honestly, I had a little TV in the Governor's office and whenever the legislature was in, I simply turned it off. So I don't fully appreciate, perhaps, all of the traditions of a legislative body.”