Joe Barton: “first I think we should point out that the Committee on Rules made in order the Dingell amendment as a substitute, as a…”

“first I think we should point out that the Committee on Rules made in order the Dingell amendment as a substitute, as a substitute for the electricity title. We should commend our chairman on the Committee on Rules for doing that. Having said that, this is not a substitute; this is an expansion of Federal authority over natural gas and electricity generators and transmitters anywhere in this country, regardless of their size, if it is deemed that they have directly or indirectly used any means that would employ any fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive device or contrivance in contravention of such rules and regulations as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may prescribe as necessary or appropriate, any entity. Now, the electricity title in the bill has bent over backwards to develop a compromise that protects States, protects small co-ops, protects small municipalities against FERC jurisdiction. The Dingell substitute right off the bat says 'any entity.' It then goes further. Not only the FERC, but Federal courts, can prevent these entities from distributing or transmitting or generating electricity or natural gas.…”