Tina Smith Quotes

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.

My constituents tell me they want a fight, and that's what I'm here to do.

I want to be the kind of elected official who not only pays attention but who acts on behalf of people - just average people. Fancy lobbyists get to tell their story, but the average person doesn't.

My job is not to represent Washington to you, but to represent you to Washington.

This is about Floridians saying what's most important to them and making sure that we create an agenda that we can drive and deliver back in Washington, D.C. So it's very exciting.

I have no great urge to be minister of this or minister of that, but instead would feel incredible blessed to have the opportunity to be a champion for a constituency and fight for their cause.

Betty Ford and I were colleagues for years, working together for women's rights in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere in the country.

When we compile a petition, we often have members go to their representative's or Senator's offices and deliver it in person. This way they can experience a real connection with the staff.

I ran for Congress because I want to help change the way we do business in Washington, D.C.

The best way you make policy in Washington is by doing it yourself.

I do not believe that I have ever before written to an individual legislator in favor of an individual bill, but ….

Most people working day in and day out do not have the time to come to Washington to look out for their interest. Moreover they don’t know how.

You name me a profession and I’ll name you a lobbyist that represents them.

In a democracy, in a functioning democracy, what would be happening is that popular organizations, unions, political groupings, others would be developing their programs, putting them forth, insisting that their representatives implement those programs.

I go everywhere in the state and I listen to Montanans, whether it's in conservative areas or liberal areas, and take those ideas back to Washington, D.C., and put them into action.

It's all about representing the forgotten men and women, to make sure that they have a voice and members of the Freedom Caucus take that very seriously.

In Washington you legislate, but at home you touch people's lives; that's what I try to do when I go there.

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

It's our duty in Congress to bring the voices of our communities to Washington.

I've been a loud voice as a Democratic leader for years, but that's not my job now. My job is to represent fishermen and farmers - everyone.

I have recently taken on two major challenges: running the CHC BOLD PAC and serving Los Angeles as our voice on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

We have to pick up people's issues within and outside Parliament and give a voice to their pain and problems and come across as a party which understands this.

As a young woman, I was always interested in lobbying. I thought to find a cause you're passionate about, to really work on behalf of that cause, work on lobbying your state legislatures or your federal legislatures, that was of interest to me.

I decided to run for Congress because when I was approached as a community leader, I felt that one of the things that spoke to me most was the constituent services.

Having an understanding of what's possible also makes me redouble my efforts to fight those who stand in the way of doing the things that my constituents and the country would want to get done.