Paul Tonko: “There should have been the checks and balances, and there should have been the investment; as he suggested, a…”

“There should have been the checks and balances, and there should have been the investment; as he suggested, a drop-in-the-bucket investment compared to the damages now associated with this catastrophe. I know the people I represent in the 21st Congressional District watch with sadness as they see the news accounts that show us the day-to-day responses with regard to this disaster. We have heard a lot of talk about alternatives and technology that needs to be embraced to carry us into a clean energy economy. My region in the capital region of New York State is ripe with that sort of opportunity. It is investing in high-tech opportunities for clean energy jobs, in innovation, energy intellect, energy ideas, energy technology that will enable us to move forward with a progressive agenda. The fact that we have been held back by slogans and mantras such as 'drill, baby, drill' have held back the progress. Even the likes of T. Boone Pickens has said we can't drill our way out of the energy crises of this country or the world. We need to embrace that new technology.”