Political Quotes

“I am happy to get involved in this debate, although I have great respect for my colleague from California, and I understand and appreciate her position. But I would also hope that people would understand those of us who are involved in using natural gas products. Especially those States who use natural gas, you would think would not be adverse to locating it, identifying it, and exploiting it. I was placed on the Speaker's Natural Gas Task Force in which we had numerous hearings across the country over the summer. Natural gas is an integral part of our manufacturing. In rural Illinois, natural gas plays a critical role in fertilizers, and we see a doubling of the cost of natural gas. That will be a trickle down effect on doubling the cost of everything. We just had reports out 2 days ago that the home heating costs will probably double across the country because of the doubling of the cost of natural gas. Being from southern Illinois, we are the 11th leading oil producing State. I think people find that hard to believe, but we are. And we have been developing and producing oil in the State of Illinois for many, many years. And you know what? We use oil in Illinois. We use gasoline. We use natural gas. So we are not adverse to looking for, exploring and developing resources. We have a gusher that was drilled in southern Illinois last year. Most Illinois oil wells are marginal oil wells, only producing about a barrel or a handful of barrels a day.”