Byron Dorgan: “I mention the Cantwell amendment, which lost by two votes. It was a very significant amendment which I think, in the…”

“I mention the Cantwell amendment, which lost by two votes. It was a very significant amendment which I think, in the rear view mirror of public policy, will turn out to be one of the most important amendments turned down by the Senate dealing with energy. We know what is happening on the west coast. Firms bilked people out of billions of dollars. There is substantial criminal investigation still ongoing and the proposition today on the Energy bill was important: Will there be adequate protections for consumers, and will we do something about the scandals that occurred on the west coast and stand up and support the interests of consumers and prevent manipulation of energy markets? That amendment failed by two votes. There was a significant debate, a big amendment. These are big, important issues. The question is, Why are we not continuing to work on the Energy bill?”