Political Quotes

“I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy. This bill, sadly, is a missed opportunity. It would have been an opportunity to deal with an all-of-the-above and a jobs bill, but it simply is not. We're in a situation where domestic oil production is strong. And what we are looking at, currently they're talking about giving out, encouraging more land to be locked up for the future, rather than using the 25 million acres currently authorized for drilling that are not being used by oil companies today. They would allow people to sit on land, paying only $1.50, $2 an acre for up to 10 years. Now, I think it's wise for us to be able to move forward to encourage energy production. There would be an opportunity here to deal more aggressively with incenting sustainable energy, clean energy, energy that will be with us for decades to come, rather than depleting existing resources and tying up leases in the future. This is an excuse to undermine existing environmental protections. Why, in heaven's name, would we seek to undermine tailpipe emission regulations that are already supported by the auto industry? It makes no sense at all. It is not wise to have language that orders the EPA to consider the cost of a clean energy rule, rather than the impact on public health, turning on its head longstanding priorities. I suppose you could diagnose lung cancer, but say, well, it's pretty expensive, so let's not say that it's lung cancer. Let's call it a cough. Mr.…”