Political Quotes

“Today's debate on fast-tracking the Keystone XL pipeline by 2 months reminds me of a saying that adequately sums up the fight before this Congress: Good sense minus common sense equals nonsense. With the current crisis our Nation faces on lifting the debt ceiling and other priorities for the American people, including the economy and jobs, it is incomprehensible that we are here debating a bill that is totally and absolutely unnecessary, completely futile, and is not even worth not one millisecond of Congress' time. Mr. Chairman, as written, this bill will force the administration to issue the Presidential permit for the pipeline within 30 days of the environmental impact statement and no later than November 1, 2011, regardless of whether or not the review process has been completed. This arbitrary, willy-nilly time line would reduce the allocated time that the Federal agencies will have to determine the national interest in deciding this proposal by almost two-thirds of the time that they need, while also reducing or eliminating the 30-day public comment period. {time} 1620 Mr. Chairman, the amendment that I am offering would allow for 120 days after the final environmental impact or no later than January 1, 2012, for the President to issue a final decision on the Keystone XL pipeline.…”