Political Quotes

“Thank you, Mr. President. This is a good discussion on the floor today. I join with my colleague from California in urging that the House move to the Transportation bill. But that is not why I rise this afternoon. I wish to speak on the legislation that is before us. This is the Menendez proposal to raise taxes--raise taxes on American energy companies and I think inevitably prices to American consumers. It has been described as something else, but I suggest to my colleagues any effort to increase taxes on the energy companies that are providing a resource to us is nothing more than a tax on our energy companies. As we tax those energy companies, it is sure not going to make them produce things that are more affordable, more abundant. In fact, it will have the resultant effect: to impact prices to American consumers negatively. This legislation before us is not a new idea. This is something we have seen before. I think the numerous times we have rejected it leads me to the conclusion that it still remains a bad idea. It is a messaging bill that has failed over and over, and I think it deserves to see that same fate again. This very Congress, just a little less than a year ago, rejected this same tax hike. Anybody who is curious to see what it is we did back then just needs to look up vote No. 72, which was back in May of last year, just to see how all 100 Members of the Senate voted.…”