Political Quotes

“I appreciate that inquiry. As I believe the leader recalls, the President has appointed Vice President Cheney to form a task force developing an energy policy for the administration. That task force has been at work for some time. My understanding is they should have this ready in about 45 days. I am most appreciative of the Senator's cosponsorship, along with that of Senator Breaux. This is a bipartisan package. It will go to the two committees of jurisdiction--the one I chair, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the other is the Finance Committee. We will begin hearings as soon as I have had an opportunity to sit down with Senator Bingaman and find some mutually compatible dates. We intend to move on this and get the debate started because, as the Senator knows, it is a very comprehensive piece of legislation. There is going to be a lot of input into it. There are certain things we have to get done, and we need an estimate from Joint Tax. This legislation is meant to stimulate new technology, to provide incentives for the small independents, the stripper wells, so we can keep those people going when the prices decline. It is not addressed to the large oil companies that can fend very well for themselves.”