Famous quotes by Public Servants

"My point is cutting spending shouldn't be reliant on the debt limit though. It's something we have to do. The good news for America is, leaders in both parties, the president, believe that we have to have significant deficit reduction. So the intent is there. And I think what America is going to demand is that our leaders come together"

"What we've tried to do is have neighbors, colleagues, friends and family talking"

"It's really a question of fairness and what kind of country we're going to live in. There are 22,000 people making over $1 million. They're paying an effective tax rate in the teens. As Warren Buffett said, he pays less in taxes effectively than his secretary does. That's not right"

"This is a basic function of Congress to keep the government running. And so, what we ought not to do is play politics with those who have been affected by disasters"

"The American people know the economy is too weak. Too many of them are suffering. So the question for Washington is, are we going to continue to play political games and - and - or are we going to say, we can do something right now to create jobs, to put money in the pockets of the middle-class, hire construction workers, teachers, veterans?"

"But the debt limit obviously is something that needs to and will be passed. That is not inconsistent with a process and a belief that we have to get significant deficit reduction"

"We believe that, by the time that we leave office, it will be institutionalized, and these programs will be addressing the needs and curing the problem that we set out to do"

"The other part of outsourcing is this: it simply says where the work can be done outside better than it can be done inside, we should do it"

"One of the problems that we are confronted with is, when we decide to buy or build a home, we don't get a clear picture of what closing costs will be of that home"

"But I do know this: that the two and a half years that I've been at HUD, I am absolutely convinced that some of the best workers in the world are in Federal Government"

"America is a place where you can be born into a low-income household but still lift yourself up, and it doesn't matter what color you are"

"They take pride in their schools. They begin to participate, where, when they are renters, they don't do that. So what we're doing by this program is strengthening America"

"Progress for black Americans depends on good schools because education is the last great equalizer"

"But we look back now, and we realize the Great Society was not a success"

"The dream doesn't lie in victimization or blame; it lies in hard work, determination and a good education"

"So, I have the responsibility of making sure that HUD functions and runs well"

"As you know, in this country Anglo-Americans are about 75 to 76 percent home ownership in this country, where Hispanics, African Americans are less than 50 percent"

"After leaving law school, I intentionally said that I never wanted to hold a job more than six years"

"The largest challenge that we face, from my perspective, is the ability to continue moving forward so the agency will have a single mission: that is, to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing"

"I believe that if you are elderly, physically or mentally handicapped we have an obligation too you, but if you are able-bodied, you should be working"

"HUD's mission is to provide decency and sanitary housing for low and moderate income people in this country"

"And what most people don't understand is the bulk of business in this country is small business"

"And for far too long, the Democrats have had a monopoly on black votes in this country"

"In the final analysis, it is your decision to make, but it doesn't move as fast as I'd like it to move"

"I think serving your government is the greatest thing in the world"

"The Bush administration is the most diverse in history because the president fills jobs on the basis of a person's capabilities and qualifications, not on the color of his or her skin"

"And I always like to stress, it's not a quota, not a set-aside, it's not about race, it's about giving opportunities to demonstrate their abilities to do work with the Federal Government"

"But obviously, we're looking for all good ideas to help deal with our long-term debt problem. This is something that is going to affect our economy. It affects our kids. And we need to deal with it"

"You know, we - if, for example, Jerry Brown can withstand, you know, what will probably end up being $200 million of spending by his opponent and get elected governor of California, that will be a big victory in the nation's largest state"

"We've got ballots flying around, being counted by hand, arriving by truck and in God knows whose custody"