Shelley Moore Capito

I think has done a very, very good job.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:51 p.m., adjourned until Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at 9:30 a.m.

Before turning to the budget resolution pending before the Senate this week, I would like to first discuss the nomination of Loretta Lynch to be Attorney General. Last week, I met with Loretta Lynch to discuss the legality of President…

My pledge to you is to continue to do that. At the same time, I'm going to be the strong and powerful voice that I wish to be in the U.S. Senate.

To willy-nilly just say we're going to stop using these coal plants and we're going to go and invest in a bunch of windmills and solar panels is just not--it's crazy.

I certainly have been a broad--and will continue to be a big supporter of the research and development of the CCS.

The EPA is going to be the ones that's going to tell West Virginia how we're going to meet a standard that we basically don't think we're going to meet.

I don't find the statutory authority for it. And I'm hopeful that the D.C. Circuit will likewise be doubtful of it, and ultimately the Supreme Court will affirm.

We've had a lot of gridlock. We've had a lot of pushes and pulls. We've got to get the train back on the track.

I think the States know better.

I think McConnell's point is, if you're going to impose certain standards on every State and the State has to come up with the State implementation plan, the State makes the difficult decision.

I just think that they have by the fact--as we shared, they haven't come and listened to us.

So do you think there is legal basis for the dispatch for the Renewable Portfolio Standard, or to order reductions in energy demand on customers?

I too had that opportunity, and questioned Administrator McCarthy just a couple of weeks ago, and candidly begged her to come to West Virginia to see the real consequences of her agency's policies.

I have grave concerns about these proposed regulations. I am concerned about their cost--the cost to the taxpayer and cost to the bill payer.

I would like to take the opportunity to say that we are the representatives. You know, this is going to say hokey corny, but we are the representatives of West Virginians.

It's just not economically feasible?

From 2009 through 2013, the State of West Virginia lost nearly 9,000 coal jobs.

The majority of the coal-based electricity generated in West Virginia is exported to other States affected by the rule.

Coal is an abundant resource in America. Why are we forsaking one of our largest sources of affordable energy to put ourselves at an economic disadvantage?

The EPA continues to overstep its legal authority waging a war on coal.

While it may be uncomfortable for EPA officials to face the coal miners whose livelihoods are threatened by these misguided regulations, West Virginians deserve the opportunity to make their voices heard.

I think West Virginians deserve to have their voices be heard.

What is the approximate cost of something like that?

I think that's a real concern certainly where the replacement for this power generation could possibly come from.