Political Quotes

“I will not engage the Senator from Arizona with questions. I don't want to delay his reading time. I appreciate the work the distinguished chair of the Appropriations Committee has done, and the distinguished ranking member, the senior Senator from Alabama. I worked with both of them for decades on the Appropriations Committee. I know they are diligent. They are hard working. In fact, I recall a discussion with the distinguished senior Senator from Maryland when she agreed to take this assignment. I told her I couldn't think of anybody better on our side of the aisle to be the chair of this committee because I know how hard she works and how well she works with the ranking member. I spoke also with the distinguished Senator from Alabama at the time--again, somebody who knows how to get things done on appropriations. He and I have negotiated things over the years. We have always kept our word to each other, just as the Senator from Maryland has. Now it is time to debate the bill on the floor and it pains me that having got this far, two senators are preventing anyone else from offering amendments. It is unfortunate we are discussing a continuing resolution because if left to the three Senators who are currently on the floor--the Senator from Alabama, the Senator from Maryland, and myself--we know we would be fully capable of completing action on individual appropriations bills.…”