Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, let me simply say that I support the Kasich amendment. I think the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston] does as well. Let me simply say, I think we need to recognize that an awful lot of people have been involved in the reform of these institutions. I would say, frankly, that the process began with the Bush Administration in 1991 and 1992, when they dealt with IDA negotiations and pushed for reforms during those negotiations. We also had the Wapenhans report which was, I think we should remember, asked for by Mr. Preston, the bank president himself. And, we have had a variety of actions taken by the Congress dealing not only with the World Bank and IDA, but with the European Development Bank, which we discussed earlier today. I would simply say that I think the Kasich amendment is a constructive amendment. It continues pressure on the bank to implement reforms, without putting the U.S. further in arrears. That, in my view, is the way to do it. I think we have had bipartisan pressure on the institutions for a number of years to try to reform the way they do business, and accompanied with some chain pulling along the way, I think we have largely been successful so far.”