Political Quotes

“I am here to point out that 10 years ago this very day, this Senate decided not to drill for more oil in the United States, where we know oil exists. At that time, the argument that was used was why drill because it was going to take many years to get it online. The Senate bought the argument we shouldn't drill because it was going to take too long. Today, we think about more opportunities to drill for oil in the United States. I wish to point out that the very same arguments that were used 10 years ago are being used today: If we drill today, we might not get some of that oil online for several years down the road. We want to be thinking about the future, as we should have thought about the future in 2002, 10 years ago, when we decided not to drill. Around the country, American consumers are paying near-record prices for gasoline at the pump. The current average price for gasoline is near $3.90. Since January 2009, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline has more than doubled. In 2011, consumers spent a greater percentage of their household income on gasoline than any year since 1981, when we thought 90 cents for a gallon of gas was a lot of money. Affordable energy is a major economic issue. Paying nearly $4 for gas acts as a hidden tax and results in people having less money to spend on other things. Rising energy prices also increase the cost of doing business for job creators, taking away dollars that otherwise could go to hiring workers.…”