Political Quotes

“Mr. President, article II of the U.S. Constitution declares the President of the United States to be the person who holds the executive power. He has the discretion to hire and fire those who work in executive branch Agencies. Now, for decades, staffing for the Federal land and wildlife management and outdoor recreation Agencies has been a bipartisan issue. This amendment does not do that. Instead, it attempts to turn Federal land management Agency employment into a political football. As chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address issues affecting Federal land management and Federal land management employees, including finding innovative solutions for their housing, working to ensure the concessionaires have flexibility and are not held up in endless paperwork, and giving land managers flexibility to work with their counties and gateway communities to hire qualified employees and work with gateway community businesses. This is not that amendment. This goes the wrong way, and I oppose it.”