Political Quotes

“Two of the things a proud and confident and responsible nation will do--no matter how challenging--are, one, to invest in its future and, two, to care for its veterans. This bill pretends to do both. Actually, it does neither. Yes, it will keep the highway bill on life support for another short- term extension. It used to be 5 months. Now, it is going to be 3 months. Yes, it will allow the VA to make internal fund transfers to keep our hospitals open through September, but once again, in another act of serial irresponsibility, Congress is ignoring its duty to do its job of passing a long-term transportation bill. It leaves our communities and States in suspension. It recklessly adds unnecessary construction costs to our taxpayers and lets potholes get deeper and bridges more dangerous. We need a long-term transportation bill--6 years, not 3 months. Regarding the VA, do we meet our obligations to provide for the health care of our veterans through internal fund transfers? Our veterans and our VA need a fully funded budget. It needs funds, not fund transfers. Veteran healthcare demand shot up 10 percent, but the budget is only up 2.8 percent, shackled by mindless and destructive sequester caps. We should end them. Mr. Speaker, this bill is not written to address problems; it is designed to deny they exist. Mr. Speaker, this bill is not an example of Congress doing its job; it is yet another example of Congress evading its responsibilities. I will vote ``no.''”