Political Quotes

“I am here today to explain the three amendments I have filed to the fiscal year 2009 budget resolution. The Federal Government is now telling a majority of the States, which of course includes Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and other States that allow for the production of minerals in their State, that an even split is not enough for the Federal Government, even though the law--the agreement in effect for years--says there will be a split. So in an attempt to satisfy an insatiable appetite for money, the administration's budget is to take more of it away from these States-- $40 million more every year. I am referring to net receipt sharing. That title kind of gives you an idea that these Federal mineral royalties are divided in half--net--that is after expenses--the sharing of receipts from mineral leasing activities on public lands. This is money that our State governments actually use for roads, for health care, for residents of our States, for education for our children, and more efficient and environmentally friendly development of our energy resources. It is money that finds its way directly to the people, not down in some bureaucratic black hole. Similar policy that was implemented in 1991 was repealed in 2000. At that time, they were stealing 1 percent after the net receipts. That led to a loss of nearly $250 million in State revenues. Now they are back again, trying to take more money away from the States.”