Charles Boustany Quotes

We work for the families back home, we do not work for the lobbyists that prowl the halls of the capital building, do not forget who we work for.

The Congress must regain the will to govern.

I have a Congress on my hands.

The legislator commands the future.

I love representing Minnesota in the Senate.

I will fight hard for my constituents in Congress as I have done in the state Senate.

The Senate is where the issues are, and most people there are career politicians.

I love working the legislative process.

A Parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of more or less idle people.

I've committed myself to serve my constituents in South Shields and I have committed myself to British politics.

I'm a lawmaker, but I really don't like laws.

If we win, we'll make history, and I'll serve you on the Agriculture Committee.

I leave it up to the government to make good decisions for Americans.

As a layperson, I consider myself fairly well-educated in terms of politics. My family always has been really interested in politics, and various members of my family have a hand in politics in upstate New York.

Being whip is working with members, educating them, and trying to move legislation forward.

I'm a good legislator. I'm a bad some other things.

Lobbying is not a bad thing. I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't have lobbyists or we shouldn't have lobbying to petition our government. It's in the Constitution, and it's something that should be honorable and good.

A governor can be a very good friend to people. A governor can be a formidable force.

Politics doesn't matter, policy does.

Lobbying is just another form of advocacy. It’s like trying a lawsuit.

Government is not a bottom line enterprise. You can get yourself elected ... but you can't fire the legislature if they won't do what you want.

Being a cabinet minister is not like running a company. A country is not a company.

Legislating is perceived as governing and governing is perceived as legislating. Legislation—conceiving it, proposing it, fighting over it, winning or losing, making the proper proclamation when passed or signed—not only is the main ‘action’ seen in Washington but is the key political currency in dealing with the voting public.... The President must necessarily consider legislative initiatives and actions as central to his own interest and his own leadership efforts.

Legislating should be done in a manner that is understandable to the governed.

Probably the most effective legislator we've ever had.