Political Quotes

“I would like to comment on my colleague's characterization that Members of this body want a backroom deal. Because in that characterization, my colleague neglected to make clear to certainly people in this gallery what happens when there is a conference report. Since March 23, we have been trying to take a budget passed by this body, in accord with the Budget Act of 1974, into a conference with the House budget that was passed the same week. That is the way, in a bicameral legislature, we resolve differences between the two Houses: to put the two different positions in a conference committee, and we ask people to sit down and debate and listen and dialog and hopefully find a compromise. There is no guarantee in any conference that a compromise will be found. All we are asking is that Members of this body, instead of exercising a prerogative to block debate and compromise, allow a conference to go forward so we can talk and listen and see whether we can find compromise for the good of the Nation. The Senator has indicated they are blocking that because they want to stop backroom deals. The Senator has neglected to explain what happens when there is a conference.…”