Maria Cantwell: “The issue is really before us in the sense that we need to continue to push the Federal regulators to do their job, the…”

“The issue is really before us in the sense that we need to continue to push the Federal regulators to do their job, the Federal regulators being the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. They have failed to do their job. We had an Enron collapse and scandal in which markets were manipulated, shareholders were conned, books were cooked, and various aspects of this investigation and prosecution are taking place. My hat is tipped to DOJ in their effectiveness in pursuing this case against various Enron employees, including their recent indictment of Ken Lay, even though that is a process in which Mr. Lay has his opportunity and will have his day in court. But I take great offense to Mr. Lay's PR campaign in which he goes on television saying that all that happened in California was California's fault, that it was wrong for them because they deregulated without proper supply. Well, I think it is very clear there has been market manipulation as shown by the documents that are being provided, and it is a question of whether the Federal regulators are going to do their job.”