Members of this Court are vested with the authority to interpret the law; we possess neither the expertise nor the prerogative to make policy judgments. Those decisions are entrusted to our Nation's elected leaders, who can be thrown out of office if the people disagree with them. It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, in the majority opinion on the federal health care law

If state governments enact new immigration bills, we say bring it on. We will see them in court.

Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, to The New York Times on the Supreme Court's ruling on Arizona's immigration law

We will vigorously oppose additional money for the public school system unless and until we are certain that the current accountability system is going to be maintained.

Texas Association of Business President Bill Hammond on the backlash against standardized testing

The current system does not hold schools accountable for successfully educating and preparing students — rather it makes them beholden to performance on a single test.

Texas Workforce Commissioner and former state GOP chairman Tom Pauken, disagreeing

A 2,000-mile monument to the failure of Washington.

Lt. Gov. and U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst on the Mexico border in a new TV spot

I hate to refer to this, but, as you recall, the Berlin Wall was put up in 1961, and it was pretty effective. Now, if we have to go and use a method that is similar to the Berlin Wall, then I think we have to do that.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Grady Yarbrough on securing the border

A criminal is someone with predatory instincts but without sufficient capital to start a Super PAC.

Political consultant and pundit Matthew Dowd, tipping his hat to Clarence Darrow