Political Quotes

“I want to return to Senator Lott's comment when he said ``Never say never,'' which indicates maybe someday a BRAC procedure. Senator Lott very accurately portrayed the turmoil in the States, the cities, the towns, and the villages where military installations are located. It is a very painful procedure by which the Department has to evaluate each of those installations and make the determinations which are no longer needed for the viability of a modern military. Consequently, the mayors, the city councils, the Governors are working very hard--I know in my State--as they are in each of your States at this time to prepare themselves for the unknowns of BRAC. Considerable dollars in the local budgets, and in the State budgets, are expended to hire those individuals they believe are expert in how best to go before the BRAC Commission, should a base or a facility in that State be put on the DOD list. The Governors can address that Commission, and indeed the Members of Congress, to state the case for not closing a base. All this is going on at great expense. As Senator Lott said, ``Never say never.'' Congress has spoken. It has put a law on the books under which our President is currently operating. He has indicated he is not going to let that law be removed. So if we take action today and send a signal that the Senate is repealing the previous law, there is a long course of uncertainty as to whether or not that decision by the Senate will stand.”