Political Quotes

“I commend the managers of the energy efficiency bill, Senator Wyden, chairman of the full committee, Senator Murkowski, the ranking member, and the sponsors of this legislation, Senators Shaheen and Portman, for their work in bringing this bill to the floor and managing it today. We have had a number of Senators who have tried to offer amendments. I was told by Senator Shaheen that she had a dozen or so bipartisan amendments that were waiting to be offered. There has been an attempt to offer amendments dealing with the bill but there is a little hurdle here with something that is totally nongermane that has been offered. One of the amendments Senator Udall of Colorado would like to offer is a bipartisan amendment to promote energy retrofitting of schools. Senator Bennet of Colorado seeks to offer a bipartisan amendment to facilitate best practices in commercial real estate energy efficiency. Senator Klobuchar would like to offer her amendment to promote energy retrofitting of nonprofit buildings. But once again, Mr. President, once again my Republican colleagues can't help themselves. They have objected to the consideration of any of these amendments or any other amendments until the Senate considers an amendment--and not only considers an amendment but is guaranteed a vote on it. Pretty interesting situation. The Senator's amendment is, of course, and everyone knows it, only for looks. It is a ``gotcha'' amendment.…”