Political Quotes

“first let me say the Federal Reserve has done a great job in keeping our economy strong and growing. Unfortunately, the Clinton-Gore administration's lack of a coherent energy policy threatens that very economic prosperity. As I speak, fuel prices around the Nation and around the world are skyrocketing as the price of oil tops $37 per barrel. Rising fuel prices affect every sector of the economy and eventually every American. Airlines are increasing fares; truckers, who deliver our food, medicine, and virtually everything else are straining to meet their contractual obligations and pay for fuel that is now costing an average of $1.62 cents a gallon. As consumer prices rise, consumer spending will decrease, leading to sluggish sales, larger inventories and slower growth. So, Mr. Speaker, what is the administration's answer to the pending crisis? Well, instead of using the 8 years they had in office to develop an energy policy which would have prevented this crisis, the Clinton-Gore administration squandered those opportunities and now is only offering last-minute solutions, like begging Saudi Arabia to increase oil production. For an administration that has not been ashamed to take all the credit for the current economy, I hope they do as much to solve this crisis than just admit, as they did in the spring, that they fell asleep at the switch.”