Political Quotes

“Madam President, we continue the discussion about the impact of high energy prices, high gasoline prices at the pump, what they mean to families from Alaska to New York--the very reality we face as a nation that is struggling still, coming out of a recession. We are worried about jobs. We are clearly worried about the high price of energy and what can be done. I think it is important to note this is something to which there are no clear and easy answers. There are no short-term, quick, flip-the-switch fixes we can do. But there are a lot of things we can help to make happen by either affirmative action or, in many cases, getting the government out of the way. In doing so, I think it is important we speak honestly about the situation before us, about what the potential solutions are and how they translate. In the past day or so, I have heard some comments from some of my colleagues that I think deserve a fair and honest rebuttal so this conversation, the dialog, can continue and be better understood in terms of what we are talking about with these oil and gas tax increases--because that is exactly what the Menendez proposal would do. It would increase the taxes on an industry that is providing not only much needed resources for this country but much needed jobs. The first point I have heard is that American taxpayers are, somehow or other, subsidizing the oil companies. Again, it is important to put this in context.…”