Political Quotes

“Mr. President, having objected, I would like to take a moment to clear up some confusion about what caused the breakdown of bipartisan negotiations on mine safety legislation last week. The terrible tragedy that occurred in West Virginia this past April has focused us again on the strength of our Federal mine safety laws and regulations. As a Senator from a State that leads the Nation in coal production, I have always considered workplace safety as one of the most important missions of the HELP Committee and I have been pleased to work across the aisle to improve safety. That is exactly what I have tried to do this year as well with my colleagues from West Virginia and members of the committee. As my colleagues well know, negotiations had been making significant progress until we ran into a stumbling block known as the election cycle. The staffs of seven Senators had been meeting several times a week for over 2 months and all throughout the recess period. Agreements had been formed on over a dozen important proposals, and several more important ones were right on the brink of compromise when the talks were abruptly called off until after the election. Despite what has been said in the press and on this floor, the simple fact is that we might well have had an agreement by now if the majority hadn't decided they would rather have an election issue. Certainly, it is not for me to consult on the political calculations of my colleagues.…”