Political Quotes

“I would certainly agree there ought to be a better way. Perhaps the Senator is not aware of the public opinion on this issue and how it has changed rather dramatically. This is a poll that was done by IPSOS-Reid firm, well-known, and the highlights of the poll indicate 95 percent of Americans say Federal action on energy is important, and 72 percent say passing an energy bill is a higher priority than any other action Congress might take. Seventy-three percent of Americans say Congress should make the energy bill part of President Bush's stimulus plan, and 67 percent of Americans say exploration of new energy sources in the United States, including Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, is convincing reason to support passing an energy policy bill. I would be happy to provide this to the Senator from Connecticut because I think it provides some reality of the interests of our State in reference to development possibilities. Connecticut is a developed State, in population and land patterns, and so forth. But if you had had an opportunity to visit Alaska you would get some idea that we are a pretty big hunk of real estate. We have 365 million acres in our State. When you use the phrase 'this huge area at risk,' I think you are being a little incomplete in your reference to what Congress has already restricted in this area. The ANWR area is 19 million acres. That is the size of the State of South Carolina.”