It's really that white collar crime, where people instead of representing the public interest of the people of the country, instead are representing their own personal interest. And so that's why we went after the white collar crime.

I am alarmed because there is a tremendous amount of hazardous fuel work to be done in Colorado.

I don't frankly understand how it is that we can move forward with the continued decline in funding for the Forest Service.

I think it is an important milestone, so my congratulations to you.

Thank you very much, Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Domenici, for holding this hearing.

The Federal Government really is a big dog in our State.

Unfortunately, the Forest Service reports that it implemented just 73,662 acres of treatments in Fiscal Year 2006 due to funding limitations.

When you look at the numbers that I have, it appears that we are doing a $64.5 million reduction from last year's budget.

I am not convinced that the Forest Service is going to be able to maintain, let alone improve, our forests with a budget that is a 1.5% decrease from last year and a 7% decrease from 2001.

This budget cuts funding for recreation management by 9% (a 12% cut in region two).

I think the mood of the leadership here in Washington, D.C., is that we need to restore the confidence of the people of America back in our Congress.

It is a cop-out and it is a political gimmick that is being played on the people of the United States of America.

I have introduced legislation with Senator John McCain, the National Commission on Health Care Act (S. 2007), which will undertake a fresh review of health care in the U.S.

What we ought to be doing... is to roll that back to 7.5 million acre feet until we can restore balance.

I want your commitment that you'll work with Democrats and Republicans alike and treat them equal in terms of your outreach and your work with them.

I intend to be voting for you and I expect that you're going to get good bipartisan support for your confirmation.

I have significant concerns about what is happening with respect to the allocation of water.

For me, even though I have been here only a period of approximately five months, what I have found most troubling about Washington, D.C., is the poisonous atmosphere of partisanship that exists in this Capitol.