Political Quotes

“I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me just talk about the opposition. It is not only with affection for the State that I grew up in and that I was born in, but it's also for the future of that State, and it's also for the future of important rules and laws that have protected our environment for many years, and to ensure that the jobs that we're talking about are not just a panacea and a selling point as opposed to a reality. The opposition to this Rio Tinto-Resolution Copper land exchange is based on many factors, but let me just point out two. This is the fourth version of the land exchange. It began with former colleague Renzi, then Mr. Pastor, Ms. Kirkpatrick, and now my friend, Mr. Gosar, from Arizona. They are not the same, none of those. The one major difference is that, with the exception of the legislation before us, the NEPA process, the ESI, the consultation all occurred before the land exchange, not after. Once we do that process, if something comes up that needs compliance and mitigation, it becomes subject to the private property owner--a foreign company that will now have this public land--to deal with that question, serious compliance issues, and legal issues. The other point is the water. Twelve years have already been banked of the 20 that the mine would need in order to operate. The point being, and protecting oak flats and other important areas of the water supply for the region, that seems like a significant number.…”