Political Quotes

“I think we need a little history on this measure if we are going to talk about the legislature in Wisconsin. The legislature in Wisconsin did pass this measure. This was a measure that Governor Thompson publicly embraced long before the Wisconsin legislature passed it. But once the Wisconsin legislature passed it, he exercised his line item veto 97 times; 97 times he used his partial veto on this piece of legislation affecting 27 areas. And he did it consistent with his statement earlier that he embraced this legislation. Now he comes to Washington, DC. He presents it to the President of the United States. He does not give it to us. I called the Governor's office yesterday looking for a copy of this waiver request. I still have not received one from the Governor's office. Yet the gentleman is coming before the Congress of the United States asking us to vote on something. I certainly think that the President has every right to embrace this proposal, but that does not mean we take away the 30-day period for the public to comment. All the politicians in this body will have a chance to comment on this, but what is wrong with letting the American people have an opportunity to have their say on this issue? Why are we squelching them? If this is such a good proposal, let us give it a little sunshine. Let us the American people look at it. Let us just not ram it through here because all this is an attempt to embarrass the President. Let us debate it.”