Todd Tiahrt: “this is a sad day for the future of American jobs and for our future economy. Tonight we have decided to keep energy…”

“this is a sad day for the future of American jobs and for our future economy. Tonight we have decided to keep energy prices higher by blocking exploration offshore on the Outer Continental Shelf. We have also blocked the EPA from reducing the paperwork burden on small businesses and on pop and mom shops, because we have blocked them from reducing the toxic relief information paperwork. We have even tried to blackmail oil companies tonight that entered into contracts in good faith to produce oil and gas. Now, we have adopted an amendment to force them to breach those contracts or else they are unable to drill offshore in the future. Mr. Chairman, my amendment is very simple. It says that none of the funds made available in this act may be used to promulgate regulations without consideration of the effect of such regulations on the competitiveness of American businesses. It is very simple: it is about American jobs. ``Without consideration'' is a very simple term. It is like being polite to people in the future. Being polite often says that we are just going to be considerate of others. In terms of our future economy and in terms of our children's opportunities, we should be considerate. We should be considerate of the barriers that have been created by this Congress and by Congresses before us over the past generation that are keeping us from creating and keeping American jobs.…”