Jason Smith actually said...

"You need to be more diligent to make sure you can understand how much of a financial impact your asks are going to have on private industry and private citizens before you start asking."

"My question--I have two. Has anyone at DoJ voiced concerns that Operation Choke Point could go too far and harm entire industries?"

"I think it is very important that any government agency, any Federal agency, let alone DOJ--that if they are asking or requesting something out of any industry or any individual or any taxpayer, they ..."

"Applying the Federal permitting process to every pond, gully, dry creek bed, irrigation ditch, puddle or other similar collection of water would be a huge increase in our regulatory burden."