Political Quotes

“reserving the right to object, the theft of valuable metal is a serious crime, one that can damage valuable infrastructure--sometimes government infrastructure--and it can cause serious harm to businesses and to the owners of the infrastructure at issue. For this reason, many States, including my own State of Utah, have enacted measures that deter such criminal activity and punish harshly those who engage in this type of criminal activity. These measures are generally appropriate, but where the Federal Government enacts legislation creating criminal penalties, we as lawmakers must be careful to respect the Constitution's enumerated powers and the constitutionally ordained structure of federalism. I have heard concerns expressed regarding people who steal valuable metal and cross State lines to sell stolen metal. While I would support Federal legislation addressed to such truly interstate, unavoidably national circumstances, I cannot support legislation that more broadly regulates intrastate conduct. Because this bill exceeds Congress's power under the commerce clause and imposes a Federal regulatory scheme in an area of the law the Constitution properly reserves to the States, I must object to the Senate passing it by unanimous consent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Minnesota.”