Peter Welch: “everything my colleague, the senior Senator from New Hampshire, said about New Hampshire and about how people are really…”

“everything my colleague, the senior Senator from New Hampshire, said about New Hampshire and about how people are really struggling to pay their bills, the cost of rent, the cost of housing, home heating fuel in the winter, which has been brutal, groceries--that is totally the same situation for families in Vermont, and it is around the country. I can't add, really, to the recitation of the practical consequences that this has on businesses and on Vermont families beyond what Senator Shaheen said. But it really mystifies Vermonters. People come up to me, and they say, ``Peter, seriously, this is going to increase our grocery prices. This is going to mean lumber is more expensive. This is going to mean home heating fuel''--and we rely on Canadian gas probably more than you do--but also home heating fuel. ``This is going to raise our prices.'' And that 150 bucks to 200 bucks you are talking about--that is real money. They just are mystified that we would, through the President, increase their monthly bills. And for what reason? You know, I want to talk a little bit about that. New Hampshire and Vermont--we mostly get along, but we are rivals in hockey and other things. But we both have incredibly close relationships with Canada. They are our friends. We have a library in Derby, VT, that is half in Vermont and half in Canada, and our kids are going back and forth to play hockey.…”