Political Quotes

“I would just add that this bill was considered in at least two committees; and in the Committee on Ways and Means, there was anything but a bipartisan, balanced bill. Indeed, what we did have was a letter from the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) assuring our committee that this bill could be passed without taking any money from Social Security and Medicare; and as indicated by his remarks on the floor this afternoon, it is pretty clear that has changed completely. Indeed, much has changed since September 11. This bill was passed before them, before the collapse of Enron, and before the Bush budget sprang a leak of red ink that began with a trickle and has now become a flood. Many things have changed, but one thing that has not is the commitment of some here to a bill that is not so much an energy policy as a collection of unjustified tax breaks, loopholes, and special provisions to aid traditional energy industries. I like the idea of balance in an energy bill, but what we have is some sweet words about the environment, a little sugar coating for new environmental technologies, and most all of the tax benefits going to the same old polluting industries. For the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) to suggest that this has something to do with taking a million barrels of oil a day from Iraq, I think, is really misleading. If this bill passes in today's form, it would not reduce that amount by one barrel; indeed, I would say not one pint.”