Steve Scalise Quotes

Power tends to corrupt. But the power in Washington resides in Congress, if it wants to use it. It can do anything - it can stop the Vietnam War, it can make its will felt, if it can ever get its act together to do anything.

It is up to us, to this present generation of Americans, to take a stand for freedom, to send a message to Washington that we're taking our future back from the grips of central planners who would control our healthcare, who would spend our treasure, who downgrade our future and micro-manage our lives.

Congress, rather than administrative agencies should fashion any policy that is not only of great economic importance but also one that has divided the faiths and loyalties of classes of people.

Congress really likes the power that comes from the Highway program or messing in education.

The President sets the policies and Congress does not. Our lawmakers in Washington ratify and implement what the President wants, but if he is a strong leader and can hold his own party together, even with the majority of the opposition against him he usually can win over enough members of Congress to carry what legislation he really feels is essential.

The priority is to put bills on the president's desk that will move the country forward.

If you can't legislate, you can't deal with problems.

In a mature democracy any proposed policy should be subjected to a close analysis of its likely benefits and costs.

It's hard to make a clear line between what is political business and what is state business.

When voting on the confirmation of a presidential appointee, always vote no, because if he or she is confirmed, it won't be long before your vote is proved politically correct.

Any person would like a line item veto if the chief executive at that time agrees with their particular views.

I cannot subscribe to the omnipotence of a State Legislature.

There isn’t that much that Washington can do to effect the economy.

In matters relating to business, finance, industrial and labor conditions, health and the public welfare, great leeway is now granted the legislature, for there is no guarantee in the Constitution that the status quo will be preserved against regulation by government.

The fate of American companies often hinges on the power of American politicians, bureaucrats and judges.

We get the fundamental confusion that government, since it can correct much abuse, can also create righteousness.

The line has not been exactly drawn which separates those important subjects, which must be entirely regulated by the legislature itself, from those of less interest, in which … power may be given to those who are to act under such general provisions to fill up the details.

Conservatives should be in power [only] when the country has no problems.

In the United States almost every political question becomes a legal question—or at least a question with legal dimensions.

The Queen of England opens every new Parliament by reading the government’s political program but no one asks if she even understands it.

There is something wrong with the way in which we make our decisions. The Government listen too much to the pollsters and the party managers. The trouble is that they are not even very good at politics, and they are entering too much into policy decisions. As a result, there is too much short-termism, too much reacting to events, and not enough shaping of events. We give the impression of being in office but not in power. Far too many important decisions are made for 36 hours' publicity.

I am going to make Washington as irrelevant to your lives as possible

When I first went to Washington [the senate], I thought, what is l'il ole me doing with these ninety-nine great people? Now I ask myself, what am I doing with those ninety-nine jerks?

Government has much wider dimensions than merely managing an economy.

The legislator commands the future.