Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, the electricity price spikes in California have gained national attention and have moved to the center of the debate on the question of electricity industry restructuring. Consumers in some California communities have faced unprecedented electricity prices and are rightly asking what the Federal Government might do to help bring down the price of this vital commodity. This evening we consider a resolution which expresses the sense of the House that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should make public its findings and recommendations regarding California's electricity price problems by November 1, 2000. It is, to say the least, a modest measure. I will take the occasion of these comments, Mr. Speaker, to note for a moment the very fine work which has been done during the course of the last 2 years by the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton). Under his able guidance, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power reported a number of measures which, taken together, would have achieved substantial progress toward the creation of a national energy policy.”