Arlen Specter Quotes (236 Quotes)

If we give up the power of the purse, which is what is at issue here, then it really reduces the Congress to the state of being a eunuch,

we need to propose a political settlement at the end of the security rainbow, to try to give some hope to these 18-year-olds who are really just posing a threat which can't be stopped.

On Aug. 8 Specter sent Roberts a similar letter regarding Supreme Court cases that overturned laws dealing with interstate commerce. Members of Congress are irate about the Court's denigrating and, really, disrespectful statements about Congress's competence, ... any real justification for the Court's denigrating Congress's 'method of reasoning' in our constitutional structure of separation of power.

It continues to be my hope that both leaders would liberate their caucuses from party-line voting,

There have already been indications from members of the court about their liking the fact that Judge Roberts is going to be the new chief justice.

I worry that these acquisitions and these mergers can only spell higher costs for the consumer and in the long run problems for the employees of these companies.

If this will require a rollcall vote, I cannot predict how many rollcall votes we will have this evening, but I would not make dinner plans.

The balance of power is not being maintained in America today, ... The Supreme Court is interpreting the Constitution in derogation of congressional authority.

There isn't anything we could have done that we haven't done, ... It's been a real 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year effort. So you don't see me perspiring today, and you don't see me tense.

I think that it is more reason to question him closely at the hearing.

I can understand that Trent is anxious. So am I. But when you take a look at the particulars, all the delays that Ken Starr has faced, I think he has to be given more time to finish his investigation,

Immigration is one of the most difficult and important issues facing the country today,

Here you have a reporter in jail for 85 days and millions of Americans wonder why I'm one of those.

I think it would have been smarter had the attorney general, looking at the many years of Starr's involvement and the public perception, which is adverse to Starr ... let someone else come in, ... Fox News Sunday.

a sad episode in the history of Washington D.C.

the fight that people have been anticipating for some time.

We are not going to budge, it is our prerogative on the power of the purse and we're not going to yield on that point. So there is a stalemate, ... We proposed to send the a bill which has more on education funding, more on health funding, but that one point, we think we're right and we're going to urge him to sign the bill.

It is desirable to have a balance on the court. And two women, I think, are a minimum, ... My preference would be to see that kind of diversity maintained, but I don't believe anybody ought to tie the president's hands.

Four Democratic votes for Roberts would be a pleasant surprise, ... they can be tougher on the next nominee.

This has been a pattern which goes back many years . . . Of all the issues of concern that the United States has with the People's Republic of China, that is the most significant,

This is not an issue for Democrats or Republicans. These hearings, in substantive fact as well as perception, ought to be for all Americans,

I think if we're to re-establish (the Congress') constitutional role, to control the purse strings, we've got to say that when it comes to local control versus a Washington straitjacket, the people of the United States want the education decisions made in the local school districts, not in the White House.

He has picked a candidate and our job is to determine not whether she's the best qualified, but whether she's qualified.

But Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), a member of Hatch's committee, took issue with that view. I rechecked the Constitution. I do not believe that ignoring a subpoena would be grounds for impeachment, ... Late Edition.

a very heavy commitment to legal interpretation which might differ from his own personal views.

Effective security measures do not come cheap.

I really can't explain it, ... I think, in fairness to her, she's facing a lot of questions at the same time. She's making the rounds, seeing a lot of senators.

I'll have greater confidence in your telling me I'm wrong when you have all the facts,

Judge Roberts, in your confirmation hearing for the circuit court, your testimony read to this effect, and it's been widely quoted Roe is the settled law of the land. Do you mean settled for you, settled only for your capacity as a circuit judge, or settled beyond that

I must say I am not pleased to have to arrange the Senate schedule around the availability of Senators who are running for President.

It naturally raises cynicism when you have so many 5-4 decisions from our Supreme Court and 4-3 decisions out of the Florida Supreme Court and that is not healthy, ... But our republic will survive.

I wouldn't support a bill that impinges on civil liberties.

I've been searching for a way that we might have President Clinton's side of the matter in a professional way, and I'm continuing to explore that. The committee is not disposed to inviting him because of the sensitivity of inviting a former president and the potential for a circus-like atmosphere,

The events of 911, as well as the war in Iraq, require our government to intensify its efforts to combat terrorism.

There is no doubt about the value of investigative reporting to the public interests in exposing corruption, malfeasance, misconduct, waste ... there are weighty considerations on law enforcement, on their point of view, and national security interests. A

I believe the vote will come during the week of September 26. That's when the floor leader will bring up ... the matter. I would suspect that we'd vote by Thursday the 29th, ... Face the Nation.