Patrick Leahy: “I do not see others on the floor seeking recognition, so let me continue. The full agenda before us, as we enter the…”

“I do not see others on the floor seeking recognition, so let me continue. The full agenda before us, as we enter the final weeks of this legislative session, reflects how little this Republican leadership has accomplished, even when it has control of the White House, a Republican President, rubberstamp Republican leadership in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. We have had a steady course of misguided priorities, including weeks--weeks--spent on constitutional amendments designed to restrict Americans' rights and the misuse of Congress's time and authority to interfere in court battles over the medical treatment of Terri Schiavo. These distractions have done nothing to help our country but instead cost Americans progress on real issues that matter most. These failures to focus on our real priorities have left America less secure. I look forward to a representative Congress that focuses on the Nation's real priorities. For example, the Republican-controlled Congress has yet to enact a Federal budget; this notwithstanding that the law required them to do it by April 15 of this year. The Republican leadership of the House and Senate decided to ignore the law and not pass one. We have passed but one appropriations bill, and we are required by law to pass 13. We have yet to reconcile and enact lobbying reform and ethics legislation. We have yet to deal with the skyrocketing cost of gasoline and health care.…”