Joe Barton

I don't know where these rumors come from that Members have tempers. That must be on the minority side.

Well, we will investigate those rumors, Chairman Waxman, get to the bottom of it.

It is my understanding that one of your conclusions is that while Chairman Jaczko didn't act appropriately, it is your opinion that he did not violate any law.

So that would appear to me to factually prove that he violated the law.

How can you put the burden on a commissioner if the chairman has the information and the chairman doesn't fully inform the other commissioners?

I would ask those present here today to consider this scenario: You have materials right in your own backyard, you have facilities to turn it into a sought-after product worth at least $1 billion, maybe more, and a workforce trained and…

I would hate to see in this current time of fiscal crisis and serious unemployment a missed opportunity for the government to keep people employed and reduce the deficit at the same time.

But if you really have any authority, now is the time to exercise it.

When compliance costs go up, that cuts into a business' bottom line, and that means jobs are likely to be lost.

I think that is pretty dadgum significant.

I just can't agree with you. I believe that we need to do more to make things predictable.

I think we have to be very, very careful with what we are doing.

all of the regulations that are coming out of this town are not helping employers.

And so that I'm being fair with you I will tell you that that actually is a line that I agree with.

I believe this is an area where we can all come together and recognize that it does have--these regulations do have an effect on jobs.

It is going to shut down 25 percent of Texas' electricity generation capacity. That is not significant? Do you consider it significant?

We are going to expect--we are going to work cooperatively with you with you and your staff.

Now, I want you to do more than definitely look into it. I want you to do something about it.

But the bottom line is when you talk about coal and you talk about some of the things, and one of the things I found interesting we had some testimony here that we actually may be creating a worse problem with coal by shipping the jobs…

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing to discuss OIRA's role in reviewing proposed and final rules before those rules are published in the Federal Registrar.

However, after reviewing those plans, I am troubled.

If this Congress affirmatively states that the application should continue to be reviewed and that Yucca Mountain should continue to be considered according to current law, is the Secretary of Energy and the President of the United States…

I would assume the Secretary of Energy is knowingly and willfully violating federal law.

I don't think social public acceptance is a criteria under the law.

Just remember, this is the Energy and Commerce Committee. No more shenanigans like you were trying earlier.