Jay Rockefeller: “all of my colleagues, I think, know by now, after all of these months, almost years, how deeply I feel about the need to…”

“all of my colleagues, I think, know by now, after all of these months, almost years, how deeply I feel about the need to stop EPA regulation for a period of time so Congress can have the time we need to develop a smart energy policy, which we have not. It is enormously important to the people of West Virginia. Having said that--and I will say quite a lot more--I cannot tell you how strongly opposed I am to the McConnell-Inhofe amendment, not only because it goes too far, not only because it eviscerates EPA from some fundamental responsibilities it has--for example, CAFE standards--but it has absolutely no chance whatsoever of becoming law--none. Mine does. Theirs does not. Do we think we are going to pass, and the President is going to sign, something that eliminates EPA forever? Oh, they will say: Well, we can always change that in a couple years. No, it is not that. It is a theological decision to pick out a campaign issue for 2012, and that is fine because that is the way things go. But to destroy the EPA permanently is an act I have not seen since I came here. There will be people in many States, including my own, who think that is a wonderful idea, but I would ask them to think more deeply. The McConnell-Inhofe amendment makes a point, but it doesn't solve a problem. I am here to solve problems. So is the Presiding Officer. The amendment would take away EPA's ability to address greenhouse gas emissions forever.…”