Jim Inhofe

I was so excited when the Los Angeles people came to me because it was actually Mayor Villaraigosa but also the Chamber there, the unions there, everyone together.

I have to admit it was the Republicans, not the Democrats, that killed that idea.

I really believe that we have the dynamics here to get in there and to look at some things that have not been looked at before.

They are not doing it because they love America. They are doing it because it is a good return.

That is not true. Because when we started this thing, we started the Highway Trust Fund, we started it back in Eisenhower's time.

I ended up being the only Republican to vote against the Balanced Budget Act of 1998 because of that.

Just the other day we had a lady, a mother of two small children, in Oklahoma City, driving and a bridge, something this big, it killed her.

I had a long visit with Senator Kerry the other day. He was talking about his Infrastructure Bank ideas, which I, there is some merit to something where there is a, in this case, his provides for not grants but loans.

We ought to be honest with that.

We can talk about all of these other things, but somehow we are going to have to fund it.

Sadly, the President failed to step up and show any leadership.

Do you know how much of that went to roads, highways and construction? Three percent.

I was hoping for some positive leadership by the Administration after only paying lip service to our crumbling roads and bridges.

I would be opposed to that.

I thought the President did a disservice when he came out and he said yes, we need $556 billion for infrastructure.

He failed to specify how he would pay for his mammoth $556 billion proposal.

I am still ranked, by the national journalists, as the most conservative member of the U.S. Senate and yet, and Barbara is on the other end of that, and yet we are together on this.

I would like to have it go further and offer liability protection beyond just the pilots who might be offering their services... This type of thing is going on all the time, and I think they should be afforded some protection from the…

It is very unusual, Mr. Ashe, that we get people either before this committee or other committees for confirmation hearings that have the background and qualifications that goes beyond generations that you have.

I shared my concerns about recent decisions made by the Service that in my view put politics before sound science and the welfare of species.

I shared my concerns before about the recent decisions made by the Service that in my view put politics before sound science.

The future of fish and wildlife and people hangs in the balance.

I appreciate that. It is actually in Edmond, Oklahoma, we have had some huge successes in teaching these young people and bringing them up.

I can't think of anyone more qualified for this job, with your background, which has been covered thoroughly.

I believe that there is a lot of effort now just to run this thing with a political agenda.