Randy Weber: “When I testified before the Rules Committee on Monday, I called the bill before us today the 900-page gorilla in the…”

“When I testified before the Rules Committee on Monday, I called the bill before us today the 900-page gorilla in the room. This is it right here. Bipartisan? It is about as bipartisan as two wolves and a lamb discussing what to have for dinner. Let me tell you, as I stand before you today, Madam Speaker, H.R. 4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, has only picked up speed as it charges dangerously toward passage. Starting with the backroom process, 98 out of 176 submitted amendments were made in order, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason why. I personally submitted two that were ruled out of order. One was on nuclear research--you want to talk about clean energy, green--one on nuclear research and development, and one was a simple sense of Congress to ensure the long-term stability of fossil fuels, the bedrock of our Houston economy that the gentlewoman from Texas was just talking about. Yet my Democrat colleagues on the other side of the aisle have said this bill is a simple marker meant to pass the House and meet the Senate and their energy package at conference to iron out the details. The problem with that is that they are ignoring the real bipartisan, bicameral legislation that has already been ironed out. Let's use it. That would be a new wrinkle in their thinking.…”