Kathy Hochul: “I am here today as someone who very recently stood before the voters, and I can tell you that the constituents I…”

“I am here today as someone who very recently stood before the voters, and I can tell you that the constituents I represent are fed up with our inability to control the soaring price of gas in this country. In the diners, in the small businesses, and certainly at the gas stations, you can feel the incredible anger and helplessness of our consumers. And that is why I feel compelled to stand here today to offer this final amendment to restore critical funding to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC is like the sheriffs in town who protect us from the Wild West of oil speculators. Now if Republicans had their way, they would send these sheriffs packing, let the speculators drive up our gas prices and run wild, just shooting around town. But those who support my final amendment to the bill see it differently. We like law and order. We like it when people play by the rules. And we like having sheriffs around to make sure someone is keeping an eye on these speculators on behalf of our consumers. The Agriculture appropriations bill under debate right now would hurt every single person we represent. And among the many problems with this bill is the fact that it cedes regulation of the oil market back to Big Oil, and it pits consumers against speculators. Today oil is trading at about $100 a barrel. In my district, my constituents are paying over $4 a gallon just to fill up, and that's for regular.…”