Political Quotes

“I reserve my right to oppose this modification, and I wish to briefly explain why, as my colleague explained his reason why he wanted to modify. I think what Senator Landrieu has offered is what everybody in this country thought we were going to do. Senator Landrieu and I disagree on Keystone. No one could be a stronger advocate for Keystone than she is, period. I believe tar sands should not be brought into this country the way they would be brought in at a 45-percent increase with this pipeline-- eventually 300 percent. We could have had a robust debate. The Senator and I would have been respectful and caring about each other, but we would have disagreed. We could have had the vote. Maybe I am old-fashioned, but I believe when you give your word, you keep your word. Leadership was very clear that if we were able to give the Republicans and Senator Landrieu a vote on Keystone, we could move forward with Shaheen-Portman, a bipartisan, incredibly important energy efficiency bill. Instead, what we know is Republicans want to offer--and it is in my jurisdiction so I can speak about it--environmental riders, the likes of which I have never seen in one grouping, essentially repealing the essence of the Clean Air Act that was signed into law in 1970 by Richard Nixon, and the 1990 amendments which were signed into law by George Herbert Walker Bush. They want to put those on this bill. You have got to be kidding. Something as serious as that? So I object to the modification.”