Political Quotes

“yesterday President Bush said record oil prices and large cash flows also mean that these companies don't need unnecessary tax breaks. How does the President think that these oil companies got the tax breaks in the first place? A Republican Congress of course. Energy companies spent $86 million lobbying Congress last year, and in return the Republican Congress gave them $14.5 billion of hard- earned money by the taxpayers. You can't get a return like that on Wall Street. Before the President signed the energy bill of June 6, 2005, energy was $2.09 a gallon. Today it is $3.30 in my district. The debate about lobbying reform is a debate about a $14.5 billion taxpayer giveaway to Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips. But what this Congress is going to vote on tomorrow is not lobbying reform. To quote The Washington Post, it is a sham. To quote The New York Times, it is a laughing stock. You could say the same and use the same adjective to describe the energy bill. Remember, it all started with the Vice President behind closed doors meeting with energy executives. They weren't exactly playing Scrabble or gin rummy back there. Madam Speaker, the Republican bill isn't reform, it is just another sign that the people's House is still for sale. ____________________”