Political Quotes

“I am concerned that a key component of any plan is to chart a course for the future. The energy plan we are debating today and voting on falls terribly short in preparing the United States for the future on a number of issues: fiscal conservatism, environmental stewardship, and international relations. This bill costs $34 billion without any offsets to pay for it. Just like the general tax cut from President Bush which primarily benefits the people who need help the least and puts our economic future for the country in a precarious position, this energy bill puts Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds at further risk of being raided. We need to be focusing first and foremost on conservation and energy efficiency. With all due respect to the Vice President, energy conservation is more than a personal virtue. It should be the cornerstone of a long-term national energy policy. Nor does the bill that we are debating today provide adequate support for those families most in need to meet rising energy costs in the short term or provide incentives and funding for more long-term solutions such as investing in weatherization efforts, more energy-efficient appliances, and building design. For too many elderly and poor people, we are still asking them to choose between energy and food.”