Political Quotes

“the purpose of this bill is simple and clear. The only thing the bill does is to repeal the highway sanction provisions in the Clean Air Act. I want to start by saying that I know what the so-called environmental community is going to say. Actually, they have already said it. I recall a press release that said, ``Another smoggy stealth attack is in the works,'' and ``sharpening the dirty-air knives.'' Well, that sounds fancy and exciting, but it is just flat wrong. Mr. President, I ask you, where is the common sense? I do not want dirty air. And I do not think anybody in this room, in this body, wants dirty air. But any attempt to change the status quo gets some spinmeisters at work. Let me explain where there is a real problem. There is a provision in the Clean Air Act that allows the EPA Administrator, with the approval of the Secretary of Transportation, to halt highway funding for a nonattainment area. For instance, if a State does not have an approved clean air plan, after a certain period of time sanctions apply, and those sanctions include halting highway funding. Now, transit funding can continue and bike path money can go forward. There is also a ``safety'' exemption where the Secretary of Transportation determines that a ``project is an improvement in safety to resolve a demonstrated safety problem and likely will result in a significant reduction in, or avoidance of, accidents.'' I have several problems with that provision.…”