Barbara Boxer: “A, I was never invited to even one of those meetings. B, had I been invited, I wouldn't have gone, because I don't think…”

“A, I was never invited to even one of those meetings. B, had I been invited, I wouldn't have gone, because I don't think it is right for Senators to meet with regulators and companies that are being regulated by those regulators. A, I wasn't invited; and B, I wouldn't have gone, and I would have expressed my opinion as to why I declined the invitation. There were comments made by the Senator saying those of us who oppose the rider in this bill are antibusiness. I want to make something clear: 95 percent of the oil companies are doing right by the American people. They are paying their fair share of royalties. I applaud that. As a matter of fact, Atlantic Richfield has stepped away from the big oil companies and said, ``You know what? We will be a good corporate citizen. We are going to pay the right royalty based on the market price.'' So, please, let no one say that this Senator is antibusiness when I support 95 percent of the oil companies in this particular matter.”