Political Quotes

“I serve on the committee, so I am certainly familiar with what happened on the committee. This amendment that raised it from 5 to 100 was not the first amendment that was offered on this issue. The first amendment offered on this issue was offered by the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. Spratt. That was defeated. It was a wider amendment than the one we have before us today. That was defeated with every Republican voting against it and one Democrat voting against it. The rest of the Democrats voted in favor of it. Obviously at that point, Mr. Chairman, having failed to get the wider and the version closer to the Contract With America, there still was a belief, I think, at that time by both parties that 5 was just ridiculously low, and it went from 5 to 100. That was not controversial. However, the major debate, Mr. Chairman, actually occurred around the amendment, the first amendment from the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. Spratt. I understand the gentleman from South Carolina will probably be introducing that amendment tomorrow, as well.”