Barbara Boxer: “There is little time remaining. I just want to say again what the USA Today editorial said, because I think it sums it…”

“There is little time remaining. I just want to say again what the USA Today editorial said, because I think it sums it up beautifully and it doesn't come up with the same conclusion that the Senator from Texas, Mr. Gramm, comes up with. It comes up with another conclusion, and that is, ``Industry's effort to avoid paying full fees hurts taxpayers and others.'' Since 1920 when Congress passed the Mineral Leasing Act, the MMS has been acting to set the rules that guide the payments of royalties. So, now, all of a sudden we have a move to say this is wrong. I think is kind of interesting, all of a sudden it is wrong, something that has been in place since 1920. This is what the MMS is supposed to do. So I think this editorial really says it. Imagine being able to compute your own rent payments and grocery bills, giving yourself a 3 percent to 10 percent discount off the market price. Over time, that would add up to really big bucks. And imagine having the political clout to make sure that nothing threatened to change that cozy arrangement. And they basically say, ``Taxpayers have been getting the unfair end of this deal for far too long.'' Mr. President, I say to Senators, we have an opportunity to end this cozy deal today.”