John Boehner Quotes

Has Washington become so dysfunctional that even when we all agree on something, we can’t get it done?

In Washington it's much easier to stop something than make something happen.

The polarization of American politics is the proximate cause of the ongoing budget deficit…. Lately, the ideological center in Congress has thinned, and the distance between the parties has widened. Compromise has come to be seen as surrender—and the U. S. Government has all but come to a halt.

Voters are tired of us kicking the can down the road, because they know it's going to land in a pothole.

Given the slow pace of Washington's bureaucracy, policymakers are often busy solving yesterday's problems. This rearview mirror approach afflicts Mr. Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress.

In typical Washington fashion, nothing gets reformed until a disaster happens.

Congress seems to thrive on breaking promises and passing unfunded mandates down to local government. It's really just a matter of priorities.

What passes for real debate in Washington often seems more like an echo chamber, with politicians talking at politicians.

There is a problem in Washington, and the problem is bigger than a continuing resolution. It is bigger than Obamacare. It is even bigger than the budget. The most fundamental problem and the frustration is that the men and women in Washington aren't listening.

Besides great climates and lovely beaches, California and Greece share a fondness for dysfunctional politics and feckless budgeting.

And I'm here to tell you, the reaction that I'm getting around the country, people are sick and tired of this word in Washington, compromise. This is why nothing ever gets done.

I am truly wearied with lounging here; doing nothing but feeding on the public funds—we have really done nothing yet beneficial; and for nine weeks has the House of Representatives been engaged debating the Tariff, that could have been as well decided in two.

Washington has become a place where good ideas come to die.

If you undertake to divide all these appropriations and have many committees where there should be but one, you will enter upon a path of extravagance that you cannot foresee … until we find the Treasury of the country bankrupt.

There is only so much that you can kick the can down the road.

The sequester is stupidity on stilts.

If you really want to get something done in Washington, it has to be done in a bi-Partisan way.

In our political system it’s easier to block action than to act.

In the Israeli system, if the Knesset cannot reach agreement on a budget by the end of the year, one-twelfth of the previous year’s budget is automatically appropriated each month for 6 months. If at the end of 6 months, there is still no agreement, we automatically call new elections. We have never had to call an election.

I would listen with growing outrage as hypocritical and obtuse American Senators made all these demands of Iraqi legislators and yet themselves could not even pass budgets.

In Congress, if you simply wait out the passion, you can get back to gridlock.

One of the reasons Americans hold Washington in such low regard is the perception that nothing ever gets done. Whatever the issue - no matter how urgent - they always seem to be 'working on it.'

We don't spend money properly in Washington, D.C. We jump these massive bills to massive bills.

I stand with everyone who is sick of hearing about Washington cutting insider deals to their friends in business, politicians failing on their promises to fight increases in government spending, and more costly and complicated rules from Washington that make everyone's lives harder.

It’s tough for Washington to pass complicated legislation.