Political Quotes

“I yield myself the balance of my time. I think the gentleman from New Jersey did say this picks winners and losers--at least he didn't deny it--and then he tried to turn it around and say that we pick winners and losers. I will acknowledge that from this standpoint: the winners will be those States that have huge, huge swaths of Federal land. The winners will be the communities in those States that have large swaths of Federal land that want to create jobs, because jobs are created because of the natural resources in those States. So from that sense, yes, we are picking winners and losers, and, frankly, I am proud of that. But I have to say this, Mr. Chairman. In listening to my friend's argument on this, keep in mind what this bill does. This bill tries to provide certainty for those that would want to get into the mining business by saying that you have to have a decision made in 30 months. Now, the decision doesn't have to be affirmative, but there has to be a decision. What this gentleman is saying, what the effect of this amendment is, as I hear his argument, is there is one more layer we have to go through before it is strategic, and that's the Secretary of the Interior. Does that not suggest that that might be a political problem, then, rather than a problem based on what is needed? No. The four broad categories is a much, much better way to do it. I think the gentleman's amendment is misplaced. I urge its rejection, and I yield back the balance of my time. The CHAIR.…”