Jim Inhofe: “All Republicans want just one thing, and that is to debate this bill, bring it out in the open, let the light shine on…”

“All Republicans want just one thing, and that is to debate this bill, bring it out in the open, let the light shine on it. Every Republican who has spoken has talked about the various amendments they want. All we want to do is discuss, debate amendments, have recorded votes on the amendments, and then have a recorded vote on final passage. That is a very reasonable request. The Senator from New Mexico said on a couple of occasions that-- referring to the amendments of 1990--there were 180 amendments that were offered at that time in 5 weeks of debate. Now we are talking about 3 days. I don't want anyone walking away when they pull the bill and say the Republicans had anything to do with it because all we want to do is debate it. One of the amendments I want is to set up a mechanism we put down in a very reasonable way that would protect truckers, small businesses, and farmers from higher diesel prices caused by the Lieberman-Warner bill. I still want that amendment, and I hope there is a change of heart someplace and we will be allowed to do it.”