Byron Dorgan: “the two things I came to talk about today are the energy problems that we have that are abiding and serious and that…”

“the two things I came to talk about today are the energy problems that we have that are abiding and serious and that have a huge impact, not only on the State of North Dakota and the citizens I represent, but an impact on all Americans. And also the trade deficit, which has a similar impact on an agricultural State such as the State I represent. These are big issues, big challenges. Unfortunately, they are going unresolved. There is the old story about a Cherokee Indian chief who is reputed to have said at one point: The success of a rain dance depends a lot on the timing. That was tongue in cheek, I expect, but that is true also with Congress and what it is willing to address and not willing to address, what it is willing to bring out here and sink its teeth into and what it wants to put in a closet and pretend doesn't exist. These issues will affect the economic lives of millions of small businessmen and women. It will affect the economic future of kids coming out of school, and they want a job and they need a good, growing economy to get a job. These issues are the kinds of things that can tip a growing economy over into a recession, or something worse. That is why it is important. When you see storm clouds gather on the horizon, you pay attention to them.”