Angus King

Hydro is an enormous resource in America. Clean, renewable and it is one that, I think, we have to clear away some of these issues that make it such a lengthy and expensive process.

My goal in Maine was that we would have the highest environmental standards in the country and the most timely, efficient and predictable environmental process.

Any permitting program that takes seven to ten years and costs $50 to $100 million is not a permitting program, it is an annuity for lawyers and consultants.

We are not talking about cutting environmental corners. We are talking about establishing a process that makes sense.

There is a famous saying of Golda Meir that Moses tramped all over the Middle East for 40 years and settled in the one place without oil.

We want to meet the needs, but we do not want to necessarily pay for them.

We really need to take cognizance of the fact that we are just not even talking about three-quarters of the budget.

It has always struck me as sensible for our Federal Government to adopt a similar method.

The problem is us. It is not the process.

But we are not going to be able to solve them as long as both sides of the political equation adhere to almost theological positions that make it impossible.

We are doing that to ourselves.

It seems to me you have to look at both sides of the ledger if you are talking about stimulating economic growth.

The difficult decisions today will be impossible 10 years from now.

I would begin by acknowledging that debt is a problem and it is a serious problem, and it is only going to get worse.

Changing the process is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

The X factor in all of this, it seems to me, is growth.

Clearly, if the middle class has more money to spend, that is economic.

Targeting our budget-balancing efforts on discretionary spending... is really missing the big picture.

We are fighting over a smaller and smaller share of the budget.

The one thing this institution does really well is avoidance.

I am gravely concerned about unlimited exports adversely affecting prices in our domestic market.

A timely and predictable, environmental permitting process is, in no way, inconsistent with environmental protection.

There is no question in my mind that rooftop solar, storage, conservation, demand response is going to happen in this country sooner than we think.

It is a pleasure to be here, yet I must say it is a daunting experience to sit on this side of the table.

I think we have got to think and put ourselves in his shoes.