Political Quotes

“I was a conferee last year on the satellite television bill. I worked very hard, along with a number of my colleagues, to put in a provision that would have ensured the benefits of this bill would be shared by rural America through a loan guarantee program. I appreciate the work of the Banking Committee under the leadership of Senator Gramm and Senator Sarbanes to report out a bill which provides a strong framework in which to move forward with this program. I appreciate the majority leader, Senator Lott, and the Democratic leader, Senator Daschle, who worked out an agreement with the committee leadership that put the bill before the Senate today. Senator Max Baucus of Montana introduced legislation with me last year. He has now joined with me on some very constructive amendments which I hope can be accepted. I am here today to stand with rural America. I am proud to be a son of rural America. I know that oftentimes the needs of this special part of our Nation must be heard on the Senate floor. I am not trying to change the main thrust or the intent of this committee-reported bill. My amendments don't alter the structure of the bill. My amendments simply say that I want the board, which will have the job of approving these loan guarantees for local-into-local television, to look at one thing.…”