Political Quotes

“on Monday, the Senate took an important step toward extending critical tax relief for all Americans by approving cloture on the Reid-McConnell amendment, by an overwhelming vote. This bipartisan vote is encouraging and demonstrates that Members of this body can work together, with the President, to do what is reasonable and right to address the economic challenges our Nation continues to face. As with any compromise, however, the bill is not perfect, and I would like to note for the record several--although not all--of the items I believe should have been handled differently. First, I am concerned about the failure to include an extension of the production tax credit for existing open-loop biomass facilities. This credit is critical for preserving renewable energy and forestry jobs in Maine and across the United States, and an extension of this credit was included in previous tax proposals. According to the American Forest & Paper Association and the Biomass Power Association, since the start of 2008, at least 35 paper mills have permanently closed and more than 75 other facilities have experienced market-related downtime. In the biomass sector this year, six facilities have closed, three in Maine and three in California, and more are under the threat of closure. The bill would be improved by extending the tax credit period for existing open-loop biomass facilities, as called for by Senator Bill Nelson's amendment, which I have cosponsored.”