Russ Feingold: “it is with extreme disappointment that I rise to oppose the amendment offered by the Republican leader on behalf of the…”

“it is with extreme disappointment that I rise to oppose the amendment offered by the Republican leader on behalf of the junior Senator from Alaska Mr. Murkowski, and the senior Senator from Kansas, Mr. Brownback. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment. I am particularly troubled that this amendment was filed as work continues to have a bill drafted by the majority leader and brought to the floor. Those who have said we need urgency in this matter have succeeded. We are working on a bill. But that is not fast enough for some, apparently, and this amendment seek to shortcut the process even further. Energy security is an important issue for America, and one which my Wisconsin constituents take very seriously. A national debate is unfolding about the role of domestic production of energy resources versus foreign imports, about the tradeoffs between the need for energy and the need to protect the quality of our environment, and about the need for additional domestic efforts to support improvements in our energy efficiency and the wisest use of our energy resources.”