Ed Markey: “right now the Canadian pipeline company is receiving a ``get out of Canada free'' slip. They do not have to pay taxes…”

“right now the Canadian pipeline company is receiving a ``get out of Canada free'' slip. They do not have to pay taxes into the oilspill liability fund. My colleagues may remember that last week the Republicans objected because they said the amendment of Senator Wyden had a blue slip problem from the House because the tax has to originate in the House. You might remember that last Thursday night Senators on the Republican side objected to my amendments--late at night and, again, on procedural grounds. Well, the good news is we have been able to find a way to have a straight up-or-down vote on the substance of whether the Canadians have to pay into the oilspill liability fund. So this is going to be the vote that determines whether they are going to be able to build a pipeline right through our country--where we are running all the environmental risk--and if a spill occurs, they have not contributed to the oilspill liability fund. This is a pure vote. It is not procedural. It is yes or no--do they contribute or not to that fund. I urge an aye vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.”