Political Quotes

“If I could add, in this Chukchi/Beaufort, for example, it is estimated that the cumulative state, local, Federal value over the next 50 years in terms of revenue stream is upwards of $100 billion. If we then talk about the payroll over the next 50 years for the same two areas, it is $150 billion. What happens to that $150 billion that people get paid? Exactly. They buy a house. They maybe put their kids through college or they are vacationing or they are improving their lifestyle. They are moving up, and that kind of money is significant. It has a multiplier effect that is hard to measure, but it is real. Anybody seeing somebody making $117,000, they are spending that money in the economy. That is why we see the job growth we see here. Again, to the principal debate we are having tonight--and we are the minority of the minority in a way--we need to get back to the basic issue of what do we want in this country in a diversified, well-delivered energy plan. We can get there. For example, we had a bill, and the other side threw down the same old talking points a few weeks ago--to drill everywhere one could imagine. It is about drilling but doing it responsibly, in the right areas, with the right design. They had Bristol Bay, the fish basket of the country, where 40 percent of the fish are caught. They want to drill there. I cannot vote for that. It is a balanced approach that we need.”