Daily Government Quotes


  • It’s the dumbest idea I ever heard.
  • Then-New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, referring to pension obligation bonds. Read Governing's feature on the bonds, which some governments invest heavily in despite the fact that they've bankrupted whole cities.

  • I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time.
  • Arizona Congressman Raúl Grijalva, who said he is committed -- and hopes Congress is too -- to addressing immigration reform this year despite competition from looming legislative fights over the fiscal cliff and gun control.



  • It’s time to take the gloves off, Jersey-style.
  • New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell, in response to the U.S. House of Representatives' decision to cancel a vote on a bill that would provide billions of dollars of aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Lawmakers' and governors' outrage caused the House GOP to reschedule a vote for Friday on part of the bill.

  • Pseudoephedrine has become as good as currency.
  • Tom Farmer, coordinator of the Tennessee Methamphetamine and Pharmaceutical Task Force, discussing the sharp rise of meth labs in the nation's cities and suburbs. Meth lab seizures have tripled in the Nashville area over the past two years.


  • So what we really want to make it is a bunny slope – not a real fiscal cliff.
  • Former Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) speaking Wednesday about what the goals of Congress should be in regards to the fiscal cliff. He stressed that not all of the defense cuts take effect next year, so withholding the scheduled tax changes are the most important task in negotiations.




  • In this day and age, justice delayed is justice denied.
  • Chuck Beaudrot, the judge of Georgia's new tax court, which convenes for the first time Jan. 2 and was created to more quickly settle tax disputes that often takes months or years to resolve.

  • No single piece of legislation, no single solution, will fully address the problem.
  • White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, referring to gun violence in the wake of the mass shooting of 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school last week. He declined to outline specific measures President Barack Obama could take to prevent gun violence.

  • We’ve got bigger fish to fry.
  • President Barack Obama talking to Barbara Walters about marijuana legalization in an interview last week. In his first comments on the issue, Obama said that prosecuting pot smokers in Colorado and Washington -- where the drug is now legal -- should not be a “top priority” of the federal government.

  • When do you stop the man hug? It's hard.
  • New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, talking to "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart about hugging Bruce Springsteen.


© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved.    |   Privacy Policy   |   Site Map