Political Quotes

“We were both at the President's speech today. One of the things the President mentioned that I think is an important point to bear in mind is carbon pollution isn't free right now. We are not going to suddenly impose a cost on the economy through regulation that otherwise would not be there. I can speak for Rhode Island. We are paying the price right now in the price of food and goods that are more expensive because of wildfires and droughts. We are paying the price in the cost of repairs to homes and shorelines that have been damaged by floods and storms. We are paying the price in terms of increased taxes for more disaster services--not only in Rhode Island but across the country. We are paying the price in the form of hikes in our insurance premiums. We pay the price in softer ways--in days spent in the hospital with a child having an asthma attack when you could be working or at home. And certainly we pay the price in what you might call the lost victories of innovation we never achieved because we were so busy subsidizing these old fuels. I wish to ask the Senator from Hawaii to comment for a moment on how he sees the costs in his home State of Hawaii, which is far away from my home State of Rhode Island, both very ocean and coastal States. But I would love to hear his experience and his views as well. Then I see the Senator from Connecticut is on the floor, who is welcomed to either join in the colloquy or to make a statement, as he wishes.”