Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2669 and in support of the McKeon alternative. As the father of three college graduates and a college sophomore, I understand the financial burden higher education poses on families and students. That is why I am proud of Republican efforts, particularly those of Representatives Buck McKeon and Ric Keller to expand college access and increase affordability.

— Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) on July 11 in opposition to the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, which the Democratically controlled House passed Wednesday. Supporters say the bill would lower student loan interest rates, increase Pell grants and offer tuition assistance and loan forgiveness. Nineteen months ago, Reps. Wilson, McKeon (R-Calif.) and Keller (R-Fla.) voted with the GOP majority (217-215) to approve the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which slashed nearly $13 billion from student-loan programs.

[T]his is great news. It’s good news for the American taxpayer, it’s good news for fiscal discipline. It shows that the economic plan is working.

— Rob Portman, director of the Executive Branch’s Office of Management & Budget, at a July 11 press briefing on his estimate that this year’s deficit will be $205 billion this year, $39 billion less than his February projection. If this shows the “economic plan” is working, why has the administration “lowered its forecast of economic growth for this year compared to what it projected in February”? What would the deficit “reduction” be if the president’s tax cuts — $300 billion in 2007 (including the increased interest on the national debt) had not occurred? Answer:” [T]he federal government would be running a nearly $100 billion surplus this year.” [Thx to CBPP.]

Pro-growth polices that focus on providing quality education, affordable health care, energy security, and making Americans more competitive will sustain economic growth and prosperity for future generations of all Americans.

— from a White House Web release depicting highlights of the president’s 2008 budget accompanying Director Portman’s mid-session review.

It’s my company. I’ll tell the board what I want and when I want.

— Conrad Black to Hollinger’s investor relations chief, according to court statements. A jury convicted Lord Black today of three counts of mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice related to charges he looted $60 million from his company.

I haven’t spent a lot of time talking about the testimony that people throughout my administration were forced to give as a result of the special prosecutor. I didn’t ask them during that time, I haven’t asked them since. I am aware of the fact that perhaps somebody in the administration did disclose the name of that person, and, you know, I’ve often thought about what would have happened had that person come forth and said, ‘I did it.’ Would we have had this — endless hours of investigation and a lot of money being spent on this matter? But it’s been a tough issue for a lot of people in the White House and it’s run its course and now we’re going to move on.

— President Bush at his Thursday press conference.

The president … has made it very clear to people in his administration that he expects them to adhere to the highest standards of conduct. If anyone in this administration was involved in it, they would no longer be in this administration.

— White House spokesman Scott McClellan, Sept. 29, 2003.

There are too many leaks of classified information in Washington. There’s leaks at the executive branch; there’s leaks in the legislative branch. There’s just too many leaks. And if there’s a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. And if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of.

— President Bush on Sept. 30, 2003.

WHEREAS Lewis Libby was convicted in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in the case United States v. Libby, Crim. No. 05-394 (RBW), for which a sentence of 30 months’ imprisonment, 2 years’ supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $400 was imposed on June 22, 2007;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, pursuant to my powers under Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, do hereby commute the prison terms imposed by the sentence upon the said Lewis Libby to expire immediately, leaving intact and in effect the two-year term of supervised release, with all its conditions, and all other components of the sentence.

— from presidential Grant of Executive Clemency, July 2, 2007.

[A] good model for a journalist [is] to be a stirrer up of strife. And I hope, as I say at the end of the book, I hope I don’t – and some people hope I do – but I hope I don’t end up in purgatory with my severed head in my arms.

— Syndicated columnist Robert Novak in a C-SPAN interview with Brian Lamb to be broadcast Sunday.

The bloggers bloviate. They give their opinions. They don’t try to find things out.

— Syndicated columnist Robert Novak in the New York Sun today.

xpost: 5th Estate