Mike Johanns

I do not want to pull rank on anybody, but it seems to me if you really need help with freeing up medical records, let us know and we can also make that request.

Let me, if I might, follow-up on Senator Tester's question about the oversight group because I, having sat in a position similar to yours, you know; there was always a willingness to put together an oversight group.

While I disagree with your refusal to allow Congressional oversight of your budget through the appropriations process, I know that this refusal is absolute.

I think we are elected to provide oversight.

I think we have a right as United States Senators to probe into this kind of information because it is important that we be able to tell our taxpayers, our constituents, 'Do not worry. This money is being spent wisely and thoughtfully and…

I think really what we are ending up with here, or too much of, is we are just making it difficult to do business in the United States.

That is fair. I mean, that is what the system provides for.

I think position limits help the integrity of markets, that no one participant in the market--no one speculator in the market has an outside position either to push the price down or up.

I cannot imagine that there would be anything in a position limits rule that would drive down the price of a gallon of gasoline.

Ben is a perfect example of someone who demonstrates the values of rural America.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for this courtesy.

I was very, very pleased to be a supporter of that highway bill, not only in Committee, but on the floor.

WRDA is important to every single State in the United States.

It's our task to unshackle job creators from regulations and mandates.

I am becoming even more of a skeptic than I was at the time of the passage of Dodd-Frank...

I appreciate that, but you must also appreciate that we have constituents who are not only interested in getting the money back that they lost, but they are interested in making sure that if something was done wrong, those who did it are…

The forecasts that you have testified about today I am assuming do not factor in the results of the fiscal cliff that is headed our way between now and the end of the year.

You know, Mr. Chairman, I think if the average citizen were to listen in on the political debate that will occur between now and November... you would get very discouraged.

So because of the fact that all of the various items that are included in the so-called fiscal cliff would take affirmative action by Congress to pull us back, which typically means 60 votes in the Senate, a majority in the House, a…

I rise to take 10 seconds to support the amendment of my colleague from Nebraska. It keeps in place a program that has been in place since 1990. It is a good amendment.

Let me just close by saying that I hope my colleagues will support us on this resolution. Thank you, Mr. President.

I appreciate your offer, and there is not enough time, in fact I have run out of time already, to challenge some of your assertions.

We chose an avenue of public power. We are the only State in the United States that would be 100 percent public power.

Coal was a pretty good decision for our State. Why? Wyoming is right next door.

My concern is it does not stop there. What I saw about Dodd-Frank, you know, we started out with, I think, a laudable purpose.