The process for producing public policy in Congress is flawed. The process itself kills policy ideas through the bypassing of the rules and procedural decisions that limit discussion. Dan Webster More Quotes by Dan Webster More Quotes From Dan Webster Power tends to protect itself merely to maintain its own status and control. Principle gives up power for the sake of creating the best public policy. Dan Webster control own best power When you wait to the last minute, you rush to get things done, and the closer you get to the deadline, the less options you have. Dan Webster wait things you done We passed a bill in 1997, signed by Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, which created a pilot program for a novel experiment called Florida Virtual School. The notion of children using a computer for a classroom and reporting to virtual teachers wasn't exactly mainstream thinking in those days. Dan Webster teachers children school thinking I'm not an angry kind of person. What I am is a principled person. Dan Webster person i-am angry kind Nothing happens in any legislative body that's not purposeful. Dan Webster legislative nothing body happens There's a picture there that people realize that, we stop helping Israel, we lose God's hand, and we're in big time trouble. Dan Webster picture god time people As a former minority leader who became the first Republican Speaker of the House in Florida since Reconstruction, I know that leadership is not an easy task. Dan Webster leader leadership easy house I'm a homing pigeon. When I'm in Tallahassee, I give everything I have to being, hopefully, the best legislator I can be. When I'm home, I'm home. I try to not do legislative stuff. That brings a balance to life. Dan Webster best balance home life I have one desire: That is to have a principle-based, member-driven Congress. Period. That's what I want. Dan Webster period congress want desire Principle says it's not who put forth an idea. It's not the position of the person who put forth an idea; it's not the longevity of the person or the party of the person. That's not what it is at all. In a power system, that's the way it works. But in a principle system, it's what it says. Dan Webster person party power way I changed that system in Florida when I was the Speaker of the House - I was the Minority Leader; I saw for 16 years the way a power system works. Dan Webster leader power house way You lay out a plan and - say a three-year plan or a two-year plan - and say, 'This is what we can do. We can do the transportation packages, like the highway bill and the water bill, and we can do some of these other areas - a farm bill - whatever it is, we lay out a schedule, and we put that committee to work to do that.' Dan Webster say you work water We're a nation of immigrants - there's no question about that. But we're also a nation of laws. I think we have to honor both of those. Dan Webster nation think immigrants honor I was Speaker of the House in Florida, first Republican speaker in 120 years. And I totally dismantled the way this House worked and turned it around to what I believe is right. Dan Webster i-believe house believe way I'm the only person that has ever run a principle-based legislative body. Dan Webster person only run body I will say this: I've had more pro-life bills, I believe, I ruled unconstitutional - but I tried - than the entire total membership of Congress together. Dan Webster say will together believe The key is - I'll say the key - number one, I pray every day. Dan Webster key every-day say day Let's take up the most important issues first. Let's take up the reauthorizations first; let's take up the appropriations bill first, not wait until four days beforehand - no one has mentioned anything, and, all of a sudden, somebody looks at their watch and says, 'Hey, in four days, the government is going to run out of money.' Dan Webster wait government money important We're not even supposed to have a break in August if we have not passed the appropriations bills. It's in the House rules. Dan Webster rules bills break house If we do our job right, then we have everything to stand on. If we don't do our job, we have everything to lose on. Dan Webster stand lose everything job
