Political Quotes

“Madam President, I thank Majority Leader Reid for his remarks. Sometimes it does feel the world is falling apart and we have to speak out, as we are doing every time these terrorists rear their heads. I know we have some time over here by Senator Barrasso, but I just wanted to make a point on the environmental impact statements, although it is hard to get back. As I understand it, in the Hoeven- Landrieu bill, the EIS is approved. So if the Nebraska bureaucracy determines there is a new route--and I think this is what my friend from Maryland was getting at--it doesn't matter what the new route is, the EIS is deemed approved. I have to say I don't think that is right. I think the people who live along that new route have a right to have a new EIS if in fact now the pipeline is being moved in a different direction. I understand the bill calls for property rights to be respected, and that is called eminent domain. I know a lot of my friends on the other side hate eminent domain, usually, but now they are embracing it because that is what is in this bill. But the fact is, if as a result of a court case brought by property owners the route changes, it is our counsel's understanding the EIS is still automatically approved. I wanted to get that on the record because my friend was in fact questioned, and I think he was right. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.”