Political Quotes

“Also, Mr. President, I wish to inform my colleagues that throughout my State, and in many other parts of the United States, this problem is now working its way by ripple effect into the private sector such that many, many gainfully employed persons in an infrastructure supporting not only the Government but other private sector support are beginning to feel most severely this situation. This morning on television here in the Nation's Capital was a picture of an entrepreneur who runs a small business--simply a bakery--which provides food for individuals, and they had to furlough three-quarters of their work force today. But that is by the tens of thousands throughout Virginia in the private sector. The tragedy, Mr. President, is that there is no back pay coming to those private sector employees who are being laid off as a consequence of this partial shutdown of the U.S. Government. So I extend to my colleagues here in the U.S. Senate a most fervent plea that they allow the Senate leadership, most particularly the majority leader, to pass today those matters that will be coming from the House by a voice vote such that they can become law after the President's signature.”