Newsroom
January 1, 2013 — Press Item
"On this day, 150 years ago, our nation took a major step forward toward ending the evils of slavery and achieving the new birth of freedom which President Abraham Lincoln promised. When the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on New Year's Day in 1863, it ushered in a new American era that brought the country closer to the ideals of its founders. I join in celebrating this important anniversary and all that we have achieved as a nation - through struggle and sacrifice - to build on that proclamation by making our union more perfect through greater equality, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all our people."
December 28, 2012 — Press Item
"President Obama is correct: the time for immediate action to avert the fiscal cliff is here. If Congress does not act, in just a few days middle class families will see their taxes go up, arbitrary spending cuts will begin to take effect, and a number of additional critical items like unemployment insurance will go unaddressed. ...
December 27, 2012 — Press Item
“We could be considering [the Senate] bill today and passing it so every working American and indeed every American would know that their taxes would not increase on the first $200,000 [for] individuals, or $250,000 as families. One hundred percent of Americans would not get a tax increase on that income. We could be working on that and passing it today.”
December 27, 2012 — Press Item
“We are in Pro Forma session. Pro Forma session is a session without substance or solutions.
December 21, 2012 — Press Item
“I thank the Leader for her comments, I certainly agree with her. Last night’s vote showed us that resolving the challenge that confronts us with the fiscal cliff cannot and will not be done with a partisan vote. It showed us that we must work together in a bipartisan way and that we must preclude going over the fiscal cliff by a balanced agreement that Republicans can support, that Democrats can support, that the President of the United States will sign, and that can pass the United States Senate. It is absolutely incumbent upon us to do that.
December 21, 2012 — Press Item
John Kerry has served his country throughout his life, from Vietnam to the United States Senate, and now as our next Secretary of State. He will bring his experience and knowledge from his time as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to his new role, and I look forward to his swift confirmation.
December 21, 2012 — Press Item
“I think President Obama has made it very clear that he has been willing to move. He has moved both on revenues and on cuts and spending. But he has not met with any kind of positive response to this point in time. I think Speaker [John] Boehner wants to get a deal. Whatever happened last night it did not eliminate the risk that the cliff causes our economy, and our people. It's incumbent upon us, therefore, to continue to work towards a solution and to reach a solution prior to the end of the year.”
December 21, 2012 — Press Item
“We still need to focus on not going over the cliff. Not going over the cliff is I think a priority for us. That's not good for the country, not good for the economy, not good for the confidence of the American people.”
December 20, 2012 — Press Item
It is now time to get back to work on negotiations to avert the fiscal cliff. We cannot allow the fiscal cliff to hit, risking damage to our economy and middle class families, and another downgrade of our credit worthiness. I urge Speaker Boehner and Republican leaders to rise above the politics of the moment and re-engage in the process of reaching a big and balanced plan. I believe we can and must take action before the end of the year to prevent the fiscal cliff, and Democrats are ready to work with Republicans to do so.