Political Quotes

“First, I agree on the need to bring up an energy package, have a sound and full debate, and pass a sensible energy package. We need it. I disagree with him on the need to continue the environmentally sound development of natural resources and petroleum products out of ANWR. I have been on the North Slope, a frozen desert which is not harmed by drilling there now. The 2,000 acres that would be involved out of ANWR's 1.9 million acres will do nothing but provide a sounder base for the caribou that live there--I disagree on that, but I strongly agree with him on the need to bring up S. 1499. If a Senator has a problem with it, air it on the floor. We have 55 cosponsors; 18 out of the 19 members of the Senate Small Business Committee said it is time to do something for small business. It had become apparent to all Members that in 2000 we had an economic slowdown. Officially, we are in a recession. As we know, as banks tighten credit standards, and as access to credit drops, small business slows down. In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, there were significant weaknesses in the small business sector. We proposed a reasonable, bipartisan measure that can go a long way toward helping small business get the restart it needs to provide jobs and spur economic activity in this country.”