Political Quotes

“I come to the floor to ask my colleagues to not vote for cloture on this measure and to give the Senate a chance to work its will. Many people know this legislation is being brought over from the House. I appreciate the good relationship I have with my colleague from the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and I would love the opportunity to have their input into this legislation, as many of my colleagues would, with just a simple amendment process. That is being denied here today if we, basically, invoke cloture. Everybody has admitted this is a flawed bill. There is not one person who has done a presentation on this that hasn't admitted it is a flawed product from the House of Representatives. So why not take a little time today and improve that bill? Why not let the Senate work its will, as we do on so many issues--because we have the time? As I think my colleague from New Jersey will prove, we are definitely going to be here for a few days doing nothing. So, why not, instead of sitting here doing nothing, take the chance to improve a bill that, by all accounts, is flawed? Also, there is so much discussion that somehow July 1 is a magic date. Well, actually, July 11 is the next scheduled legal hearing on this, and that is plenty of time for the Senate to weigh in on a few ways to improve this legislation and to make sure we are not suspending the constitution of Puerto Rico in the process.…”