Jay Inslee: “the majority's bill gives over $20 billion in taxpayer money to the special interest oil and gas industry. Could you not…”

“the majority's bill gives over $20 billion in taxpayer money to the special interest oil and gas industry. Could you not find it in your heart to just do one small thing for the consumer? Could you not throw a bone to the people and the small businesses on the West Coast, in Washington and Oregon and California, that have seen their prices go up 50 to 60 percent? Is that not in your compassionate heart to do that? That is all we are asking. Look at the history of how we got here. For 7 months we have been pleading with the White House, we have been pleading with our colleagues, to pay attention to this crisis in the West Coast. And we are well beyond the issue of whether we should take action or not. I have a letter from the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) dated June 12, 2001, asking the FERC to take some action. The point is, they have not taken any action that works. This is not an issue of whether the Federal Government should act, this is a question of whether the Federal Government has acted effectively. It has not. We need help in the West Coast, not just California. Pass this amendment.”