Legislative Duty Quotes

I deeply and sincerely regret that this body has degenerated into a supine, subservient, soporific, superfluous, supercilious, pusillanimous body of nitwits, the greatest ever gathered beneath the dome of our National Capitol, who cowardly abdicate their powers and, in violation of their oaths to protect and defend the Constitution against all of the Nation's enemies, both foreign and domestic, turn over these constitutional prerogatives, not only granted but imposed upon them, to a group of tax-eating, conceited autocratic bureaucrats a bunch of theoretical, intellectual, professorial nincompoops out of Columbia University, at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue who were never elected by the American people to any office and who are responsible to no constituency. These brain trusters and 'new dealers' are the ones who wrote this resolution, instead of the Members of this House whose duty it is, and whose sole duty it is, to draft legislation.

I thank the voters of Upstate N.Y. for this privilege to serve and pledge to continue to work tirelessly on their behalf in this final term.

It shall be the duty of the legislators and magistrates in all future periods of this commonwealth to cherish the interests of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries of them…

We get paid to do this work, and fellow senators need to do their jobs.

I believe being a good senator requires two things. Number one, acumen. Number two, interest.

Congress, of course, is not bound to accept the president's budget figures, but the House has the sole power to appropriate funds for spending, and it is a duty that should not be ignored.

When the Senate ceases to engage nominees in meaningful discussion of legal issues, the confirmation process takes on an air of vacuity and farce, and the Senate becomes incapable of either properly evaluating nominees or appropriately educating the public.

Most people who serve in Congress just want to do the right thing.

I don't know if I've seen in the Constitution where it says if there's an election year, then we take a break until after for us to do the business of the American people.

The Executive is charged officially in the Departments under it with the disbursement of the public money, and is responsible for the faithful application of it to the purposes for which it is raised. The Legislature is the watchful guardian over the public purse. It is its duty to see that the disbursement has been honestly made.

And, as you recall, last year, people were asking us, don't vote on the bill until you read every part of the bill. So, as a good attorney and as a good legislator, I think it's my responsibility to read the amendments.

I maintain that the House is bound by the Constitution to receive the petitions; after which, it will take such method of deciding upon them as reason and principle shall dictate.

It has been said that this Congress is to be a do-nothing Congress. My humble judgment is, if this House shall investigate carefully and determine correctly and accurately the numerous contested-election cases before it, it will have performed a duty to the country of greater importance than the settlement of any question that has ever claimed the attention of a deliberative legislative body in this Republic for the last half century.

I was on the elections committee in my last session in the state House of Representatives.

Members of Congress goes before the cameras telling us that the immigration situation is a humanitarian crises, and then they leave town [having a Congressional vacation]. In a crisis I do my job. They should be here in Washington doing their jobs.

My only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one I’ve had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol — to do what I believe is best for America.

If Congress is unable to do its job and pass a federal budget, then I do not believe we should receive a salary.

The government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.

Keeping our children safe is not only an area where both political parties can find common ground, but as lawmakers, it is our moral obligation.

I'm focused, as you can tell, on 2014 and on doing my job as a senator.

Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government.

And if this House is to be scared, by whatever influences, from its duty, to receive and hear the petitions of the People, then I shall send my voice beyond the walls of this Capitol for redress.

They knew I had some problems with them. …. It was a bunch of bullshit. I didn't believe in it. …. They are constituents of mine. They have a huge facility in Helmet. If they come in with a legitimate concern, then I will address it.

... it's better to be in session than go home and face the voters.

I was appointed to the Senate, and it has been my job to serve in the Senate and then to earn the vote of Minnesotans.