Mike Quigley Quotes

The Senate floor is and always has been the great arena of our democracy. I spent eight years in my younger life as a boxer, and sometimes when I enter the chamber, I think, 'This is the ring. The American people can see us here and listen to our arguments. This is where the fights matter.'

Public business in the United State Senate should be done in the public.

Throughout my first term in office, we have taken many steps to keep my commitment to make my work in Congress as transparent and accessible as possible.

A competition of the best ideas - that should be what Congress is about.

I think people are distrustful of politicians and are looking for someone who is telling the truth with no hidden agenda.

I'm a longtime believer in the old adage that sunlight is the best disinfectant, particularly in politics.

To restore and keep the public's confidence in the integrity of their government, state government and its officials must be open, honest and transparent.

Any spending should be debated openly on the floor of the House and voted on in open session, with the American people having a chance to watch and listen.

Our laws to be wholesome need not be enacted in a palace.

By and large, our leaders don’t lie to us.

Sunlight is better than secrecy when it comes to making laws.

I can be unhappy with the Congress, but I cannot give up on its ideology.

I'm the most transparent secretary of state because of that. I've been willing to say, "OK, read them [emails] all."

Our democracy is predicated on the belief that our government should be accessible by the people. We cannot allow ourselves to give in to fear or shy away from interacting with the public.

I think the truth is always interesting, but with politicians, you don't get to see much of that.

I enjoyed my stay in the Congress. Most people do not. And too many people who have been elected really don't understand the nature of government.

One of our most noble political tasks is to open up trust.

I came into politics because I wished to change things. You can't do that by lying to people; you have to educate, and persuade, and carry them with you - and it's often a long haul.

In all my public and private acts as your president, I expect to follow my instincts of openness and candor with full confidence that honesty is always the best policy in the end.

This idea that you can't be an honest man and a Washington politician is a myth, a crock made up by sellouts and careerist hacks who don't stand for anything and are impatient with people who do. It's possible to do this job with honor and dignity.

Machiavelli's teaching would hardly have stood the test of Parliamentary government, for public discussion demands at least the profession of good faith.

I think Canadians want to get a feel for the people who will serve them... and, for me, I think that Canadians will trust people who trust them.

When I was first elected to the House in 2006, it was important to me to send a clear message to the people of NY-20: I wanted to be a representative for the people and shed some light on their government, so I became the first member of Congress to post my schedule, my financial disclosures and my earmark requests all online.

I am committed to working towards a more transparent, accountable, and ethical federal government worthy of the public's trust.

The American people want to have trust in their leaders.