Political Quotes

“the question this morning is, Do we think it is smart to import over half the oil which fuels the economy of this Nation? Is it smart not only economically, but militarily, to be that dependent on foreign oil? And is it smart to continue doing that when we have domestic oil producers such as the hundreds of small companies operating in my district and across Illinois, across this Nation, who could help balance the budget with increased domestic production? I am joining my colleagues in the bipartisan Oil and Gas Forum to ask some of these questions over the next few weeks as we try to focus on a sound energy policy for this Nation which recognize the resources we have here at home, recognizing the importance of jobs created by a healthy domestic energy industry. We are talking about Main Street America, from Casey to Carmi in my district, from Pennsylvania to California in this country, small businesses employing a dozen or so people who want to do business in an environmentally responsible way to help our economy, not making it more dependent on forces outside our control.”