Political Quotes

“I rise to say a few words to applaud the Senate bipartisan leadership for the ongoing negotiation to do what the American public wants us to do, to reopen our government, affirm the fiscal soundness of the United States, and finally begin a true dialog of a budget conference to find a path forward for 2014. This is what America wants us to do. They want us to work together in the Senate--Democrats and Republicans. They want the Senate and the House to work together. They want us to stop the foolish shutdown that has needlessly hurt individuals, our communities, our economy, and our prestige. Now is the time to do that and then begin the repair work that is ahead. The deal that has been worked on by Senator Reid, Senator McConnell, and others is a bipartisan deal. As the Presiding Officer knows, that is necessary. The American public has provided a divided Congress--one House with a Democratic majority and one House with a Republican majority. If we are to get over this short-term hump--and indeed, if we are to get over the next hump through a budget negotiation--it is not going to be just one side dictating the terms. Those who thought they would shut down the government and dictate terms were wrong. Those who thought they could threaten default on the debt and dictate terms were wrong.…”