Political Quotes

“Madam President, today, passage of essential legislation to support job-creating business investment was relegated to callous political brinkmanship. For months, funding for the biodiesel and the research and development, R & D, tax credits have been stalled due to Republican opposition. Just in June, I voted three times to fund the credits--on the 17th, again on the 24th, and finally on the 30th. Each time, every Republican voted against the bill that contained these and other essential extensions. Then today, as we neared completion of another essential piece of legislation, the small business jobs bill, motions regarding biodiesel and R & D were presented by Senators Grassley and Hatch as a way to slow down progress on the legislation at hand. Let me be clear--we must extend these credits. R & D credits have long been viewed as lifeblood for American innovation and job creation. While less known, the biodiesel credits also provide essential economic assistance to clean energy small businesses. Without a doubt businesses suffer due to our inability to work together. A business in Erie, PA, illustrates this point. Hero BX has struggled this year to keep its production facility open without the biodiesel credit, putting 40 jobs on the line. I want to provide Hero BX and other businesses across the Commonwealth and beyond with the tools needed to compete and survive. Senator Baucus has reintroduced the tax extender package, including the R & D and biodiesel credits.…”