Jim Matheson: “this week there will be a number of different energy policy proposals that will be introduced, a number of events that…”

“this week there will be a number of different energy policy proposals that will be introduced, a number of events that will attract a lot of attention, attract a lot of press; and we are at the outset of a time when Congress will be asked to take on the very difficult task of trying to develop a commonsense, comprehensive national energy policy. This is a complicated issue, and we really should not take a simplistic approach. In that context, we should not take a simplistic partisan approach. Energy should not be a partisan issue. We should find a common ground within this body to tackle such a complicated issue. We are going to hear concerns about this issue, where we talk about some short-term issues and some long-term issues, and it is important to consider both of those time frames in terms of making good public policy decisions. The short-term is the set of issues that we can all relate to the most, because we are all consumers in this country and we have all felt the pain of the gas pump. We have all seen our electric bills come in at higher prices. We have all seen our gas bills come in at higher prices. The short-term issue is the more tangible issue. Although it is the more tangible issue, it is also one that is very complicated to solve, because there are not too many options we have right now. But we should recognize that consumers are feeling the pinch.”