Political Quotes

“as I have said before on this floor, I think it is time for us to get real about energy. It is time for us to get real about lowering gas prices. The American people, as we all know if we have listened to our folks when we go back home, are suffering from record-high prices of gasoline. Now, in response to the record pain at the pump, the American people deserve something more than legislative gimmicks that raise taxes, increase litigation or provide political favors. It is a startling place many of our Democratic friends now find themselves in. They seem to believe that for every problem there is a tax increase that can help. If there is someone you do not like or want to take a shot at, raise their taxes. You have a problem that needs fixing, raise the taxes. We saw that with the climate debate last week. To address the issue of climate change, the bill proposed, and the amendment we did not adopt last week proposed, to raise energy prices $6.7 trillion to lower energy demand and pay for new Government programs and spending. With record-high prices for gasoline, climate sponsors wanted to raise gas prices a further 53 cents by 2030 and $1.40 by 2050. This week brought a new attempt to raise taxes. Well, last week some quibbled about whether the $6.7 trillion in higher energy prices was a hidden tax or a hidden fee. It did not make much difference to the people who would pay it.”