Political Quotes

“Mr. President, let me rise today to speak about the conference report that it appears we will be voting on tomorrow regarding the issues of the payroll tax, unemployment benefits, and the so-called doc fix. Let me first of all acknowledge that I know that many of my colleagues have worked long hours on the payroll tax deal that was apparently reached late last night. I have been briefed on pieces of this deal and I've also seen many of the press reports that have described this deal as a new sign of bipartisanship. As a new Member of the Senate, I know, like the Presiding Officer, we believe that we do our best work here in Congress when we can have bipartisan solutions, when we can find ways to reach common ground. All of those factors make it doubly difficult for me to now rise and say I will be voting against the conference report when it comes before this body tomorrow. Now, let me acknowledge on the front end that I think there are worthy reasons in this recovering economy we have got right now, it makes some sense to maintain some form of payroll tax holiday for a limited period of time. I know the Presiding Officer feels that one of the most important issues our country confronts right now--I would say the most important issue and the one that overhangs everything else we debate here--is our inability to come to grips with our debt and deficit.…”