Political Quotes

“I rise to address again the status of one of the major environmental pieces of legislation before this body, and that is the omnibus Presidio parks package which is currently before this body. There is still time to pass that package in this Congress while the House is still in session. But once the House sends the CR over, it will be simply too late. Where that matter is currently, Mr. President, is there is a hold on it here in the U.S. Senate, and that hold is by the Clinton administration. The justification for that hold is very difficult to reflect because this Senator, as chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has continued to try to work with the administration to address its objections. The first group of objections and veto threats covered Utah wilderness, which was stricken from the package; grazing, which was stricken from the package; the 15-year Tongass extension, which was stricken from the package; and, finally, the Minnesota wilderness boundaries, which was stricken from the package. We felt we had met the administration's objections responsibly. Then, the day before yesterday, they presented approximately 42 other sections that they wanted removed.”