John Tierney: “Mr. Chairman, I have been having this discussion with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. McIntosh) in committee now for…”

“Mr. Chairman, I have been having this discussion with the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. McIntosh) in committee now for quite some time, and I rise in support of the Obey amendment. During the past 4 months, in the Subcommittee on National Economic Growth, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, we have had at least five hearings. And what some have deemed to be the Clinton administration's back door of implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, we have been exposed and seen all kinds of frightening figures and numbers and portraits of devastating scenarios played out by a wide variety of witnesses on the possible effect the protocol would have on our economy and our jobs. Let me assure this body, as we have assured the gentleman from Indiana and his committee, we have no intention of trying to implement the Kyoto Protocols before they have been thoroughly researched, thoroughly explained and thoroughly voted in the Senate. This amendment by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) makes this clear. But it is not sensible to prohibit the government agencies, that should be doing research, that should be educating themselves and the public, from doing that.”