Political Quotes

“Following the testimony before our committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, yesterday by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, I am again calling for the Senate to pass legislation that has already passed this House to stop California from banning gas-powered vehicles. California has announced this ban, and now some 18 other States are going along with it, States that have linked their emissions policies to California. The ban is set to go into effect by 2035. This was done, by the way, simply by regulation, not even by a vote of the legislature. Now, I am all for electric vehicles. I have many constituents who drive them. However, I think that it should be a matter of choice, that folks should have the chance and the opportunity to select what vehicle they want to drive. The interesting thing about yesterday's testimony by Secretary Buttigieg is that he actually agreed with me. He testified several times, and confirmed in response to my questioning, that he does not favor a ban on gas-powered vehicles. He said that this should be a matter for consumers to choose. Supposedly that would appear to be the same position that I have, that this should be a matter of consumer choice. Then I asked him whether he is against California's attempt to ban gas-powered vehicles, and the Secretary responded: This is a matter of States' rights. The State should be able to do whatever it wants. Here is the problem.…”