Congress Quotes - Page 30

• We have depended on government for so much for so long that we as people have become less vigilant of our liberties. As long as the government provides largesse for the majority, the special interest lobbyists will succeed in continuing the redistribution of welfare programs that occupies most of Congress's legislative time.

  Ron Paul

  Government, Welfare Programs, Long

  Speech in the House of Representatives, September 17, 1997.

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• Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Presidential, Liberty, Libertarian

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• I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground that 'all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.' To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power not longer susceptible of any definition.

  Thomas Jefferson

  Government, People, Fields

  Thomas Jefferson (1854). “The Writings of Thomas Jefferson: Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private : Published by the Order of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, from the Original Manuscripts, Deposited in the Department of State”, p.556

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• It's disgraceful that year after year, Congress has bowed to the tobacco lobby and refused to act.

  Edward Kennedy

  Years, Smoking, Tobacco

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• We have to identify everybody that's here, and there's going to be an appropriate discussion in Congress on how to deal with an individual who has been here maybe for some long period of time. Amnesty is not on the table period. There will be no amnesty in the United States. We're a country of law and the idea that we're going to tell people that somehow or another that that's all forgiven is not going to happen. How we deal with them is a conversation. I don't know if I know all the answers. I want to talk to the American people.

  Rick Perry

  Country, Law, Ideas

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• Congressional mistakes have dramatically increased immigration through a series of what I believe were ill-advised actions going back to 1965 when the basic notions of our immigration laws were revised. In 1990, Congress opened the floodgates by passing a 35-percent increase in legal immigration.

  Ronald Reagan

  Mistake, Believe, Law

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• When you authorised Congress to borrow money, and to contract debts, for carrying on the late war, you could not intend to abridge them of the means of paying their engagements, made on your account. You may observe that their future power is confined to provide common defence and general welfare of the United States. If they apply money to any other purposes, they exceed their powers. The people of the United States who pay, are to be judges how far their money is properly applied.

  David Ramsey

  War, Mean, Judging

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• The other General Welfare Clause is in the first of the authorities given to the Congress and it's not a grant, it's a restriction. By which I mean it doesn't say Congress can legislate for the general welfare, it means that everything Congress must do has to enhance the general welfare of the United States of America. It can't grant things to individuals, it can only legislate for the government.

  Andrew Napolitano

  Mean, America, Government

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• ...we will not grant amnesty to illegal aliens in this Congress or, hopefully ever again. We did that once. Everybody said it was a one time deal. We were to never do it again. The problem with doing it was we reward people who violated the law. We reward people who came into the country illegally.

  Phil Gramm

  Country, Law, People

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• Congress should definitely consider decriminalizing possession of marijuana. We should concentrate on prosecuting the rapists and burglars who are a menace to society.

  Dan Quayle

  Weed, War, Marijuana

  "Legalizing Marijuana: Drug Policy Reform and Prohibition Politics". Book by Rudolph Joseph Gerber, 2004.

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• The IRS has become morally corrupted by the enormous power which we in Congress have unwisely entrusted to it. Too often it acts like a Gestapo preying upon defenseless citizens.

  Edward V. Long

  Liberty, Citizens, Irs

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• Pro and con are opposites, that fact is clearly seen. If progress means to move forward, then what does congress mean?

  Nipsey Russell

  Funny, Humorous, Moving

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• At a time when our country is waging two wars, approval ratings for Congress are at historic lows, unemployment is at a 70-year high and financial institutions have collapsed around us, I can't imagine anyone seriously opposing a National Day of Prayer.

  Franklin Graham

  Country, Prayer, War

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• I was so inspired by Dr. King that in 1956 with my brothers and sisters and first cousins, I was only 16 years old, we went down to the public library trying to check out some books and we were told by the librarian that the library was for whites only and not for colors! It was a public library! I never went back to that public library until July 5th, 1998, by this time I'm in the Congress, for a book signing of my book "Walking with the Wind"

  John Lewis

  Cousin, Brother, Kings

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• My golf-loving friend Bob Hope asked me what my handicap was, so I told him - the Congress.

  Ronald Reagan

  Golf, Loving Friends, Bob

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• No law can give Congress a backbone if it refuses to stand off as the coequal branch the Constitution made it.

  Trey Gowdy

  Bad Ass, Law, Giving

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• What do we do with a president who can basically change what Congress passed by attaching a letter saying I don't agree with this part or that part?

  Trey Gowdy

  Bad Ass, President, Letters

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• Members of Congress are incredibly blessed and fortune to have the jobs that we have. Nobody makes us run. Every two years we offer for public office, and if you don't want to do it then don't run. But the notion that you can make $174,000 in this country and be underpaid is laughable.

  Trey Gowdy

  Running, Country, Jobs

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• It's really beneath the office of a member of Congress to say something that outrageous. The fact that she was once the Speaker is mind-numbing, honestly... mind-numbingly stupid.

  Trey Gowdy

  Stupid, Bad Ass, Office

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• Congress is supposed to provide oversight, the voters are supposed to provide oversight. And you [the media] were supposed to provide oversight. That's why you have special liberties and that's why you have special protections.

  Trey Gowdy

  Bad Ass, Media, Special

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• I do not have regrets. I believe I helped preserve the peace for this country. Why should I regret that? What I accomplished was approved by Congress -- which represents our people. All of you live in safety from domestic enemies because of security from the police. Likewise, you live in safety from foreign enemies because our military keeps them from attacking us.

  Hyman Rickover

  Country, Regret, Military

  "Thoughts on Man's Purpose in Life". Second Annual Morgenthau Memorial Lecture, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, 1982.

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• Every piece of progressive social legislation passed by Congress in the 20th century bears a union label.

  George Meany

  Struggle, Labels, Pieces

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• ...So they are trying to do something about it. They are not doing it by seeking charity. They are not begging at the welfare office. They are not, like many of their employers, lobbying the halls of Congress with their gold plated tin cups asking to be paid for not growing crops. They are trying to do it in the way that millions of other Americans have shown is the right way-organization, unionism, collective bargaining.

  Cesar Chavez

  Organization, Office, Trying

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• The Congress of the United States, in recognition of the unique contribution of the Bible in shaping the history and character of this Nation, and so many of its citizens, has by Senate Joint Resolution 165 authorized and requested the President to designate the year 1983 as the 'Year of the Bible.'

  Ronald Reagan

  Bible, God, Religious

  United States. President (1981-1989 : Reagan), United States. President (1981-1989 : Reagan)., Ronald Reagan, United States. Office of the Federal Register (1982). “Ronald Reagan”

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• Our Congresses consist of Christians. In their private life they are true to every obligation of honor; yet in every session they violate them all, and do it without shame. Because honor to party is above honor to themselves.

  Mark Twain

  Christian, Religious, Party

  Mark Twain (2015). “Christian Science”, p.343, Mark Twain

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