Political Quotes

“obviously we have not had the progress we had hoped for on the Energy bill over the course of the last several days. I know that Senators have indicated they still have amendments to the electricity amendment. And it is clear to me there is not a definite sign as to when we might finish that issue. Members have the ability to slow down this bill. With the lengthy amendment list that is before us, there are many options to do that. After numerous discussions today, it is clear to me we are not on a course to complete this bill over the next couple of days. It is important to do. I set out several weeks ago--actually 2 months ago--stating that the objective would be to work aggressively over the course of this final week, having had the bill before us in May, spending a number of days before this week on this bill. In spite of that commitment on my part to plow ahead, it appears to me now--Wednesday night at 10 o'clock--that the writing is on the wall: We are not going to be able to complete the bill. Having said that, I think it is important that Members have an opportunity to really prove their commitment to this underlying bill.”