Political Quotes

“I come to the floor to express my opposition to the Roberts amendment No. 1826, which, among other provisions, would have opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling. I should start by stating that there are several provisions in this amendment that I would support, such as an extension of tax credits for our short-line railroads or those for brownfields remediation expenses. Unfortunately, these positives were outweighed by the negative provisions, several of which we have already voted on, including Keystone XL and offshore drilling. I guess it is only fitting that, in my last year to serve in the Senate, we should be faced with this challenge once again. In 1988, I took up the protection of the Arctic Refuge in my first Senate campaign; and since then, I have made it one of my missions to protect this great unspoiled natural American treasure. Throughout the years, many colleagues have joined together in this important bipartisan endeavor. Today I am proud to continue the fight to protect the refuge alongside my colleague from Washington, Senator Cantwell, as well as with many others, including the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator Boxer. In keeping with Secretary of State George Schultz's dictum that ``nothing ever gets settled in this town,'' some of our colleagues have found a new way to try and open the Arctic Refuge to drilling.…”