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WILL VOTE ON A PAIR OF JUDICIAL
NOW LIVE TO THE SENATE FLOOR
HERE ON C-SPAN2.
SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE CHAPLAIN, DR. BARRY BLACK,
WILL LEAD THE SENATE IN PRAYER.
LET US PRAY.
O GOD WHO PUT INTO OUR HEARTS
SUCH DEEP DESIRES THAT WE CAN'T
BE AT PEACE UNTIL WE REST IN
YOU, SATISFY THE LONGINGS OF OUR
SOULS WITH YOUR MERCIFUL
PRESENCE.
LORD, OPEN THE MINDS OF OUR
TO THE COUNSELS OF YOUR ETERNAL
WISDOM, BREATHING INTO THEIR
HEARTS YOUR PEACE WHICH PASSES
UNDERSTANDING.
INCREASE THEIR HUNGER FOR
JUSTICE IN OUR NATION AND WORLD,
AS THEY
FIND THE GRACE TO SEEK FIRST
YOUR KINGDOM.
MAY THEIR MOMENTS AND DAYS
EVER FLOW IN CEASELESS PRAISE.
WE PRAY IN YOUR HOLY NAME.
AMEN.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECITING
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE
CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION
TO THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON D.C.,
MARCH 6, 2012.
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 1,
PARAGRAPH 3, OF THE STANDING
RULES OF THE SENATE, I HEREBY
THE HONORABLE RICHARD
BLUMENTHAL,
A SENATOR FROM THE
STATE OF CONNECTICUT,
TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
FOLLOWING LEADER
REMARKS, THE SENATE WILL BE IN A
PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS FOR
AN HOUR.
THE MAJORITY WILL HOLD THE FIRST
THE REPUBLICANS THE SECOND HALF.
FOLLOWING MORNING BUSINESS THE
SENATE WILL RESUME CONSIDERATION
CONSIDERATION OF S. 1318 WHICH
IS THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
BILL.
THE FILING DEADLINE FOR
SECOND-DEGREE AMENDMENTS IS
TODAY AT 11:30.
AT NOON THERE WILL BE A CLOTURE
VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE
THE SENATE WILL RECESS FROM
12:30 UNTIL 2:15 P.M. TO ALLOW
FOR WEEKSLY CAUCUS MEETINGS.
AT 2:15 THERE WILL BE TWO VOTES
ON CONFIRMATION OF PHILLIPS AND
RICE TO BE JUDGES.
WOULD THE CHAIR ANNOUNCE THE
BUSINESS OF THE DAY.
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
LEADERSHIP TIME IS RESERVED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THERE
WILL NOW BE A PERIOD OF MORNING
BUSINESS FOR 60 MINUTES WITH
SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK
THEREIN UP TO TEN MINUTES, WITH
THE TIME EQUALLY CONTROLLED AND
DIVIDED BY THE TWO LEADERS OR
THEIR DESIGNEES, WITH THE
MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE FIRST
HALF AND THE REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE FINAL HALF.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON STATE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
COME TO THE FLOOR TODAY TO URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE IN SUPPORT
OF THOMAS RICE.
HE'S BEEN NOMINATEED TO SERVE AS
JUDGE FOR THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON.
MR. RICE IS A DISTINGUISHED
ATTORNEY WHO HAS DEDICATED HITS
PROFESSIONAL -- HIS PROFESSIONAL
CAREER TO SERVING THE PUBLIC IN
THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
IN THAT TIME HE EARNED THE
RESPECT OF FEDERAL JUDGES,
OPPOSING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, HIS
FELLOW PROSECUTORS AND LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
MR. RICE HAS A DEEP CONNECTION
TO EASTERN WASHINGTON AND ITS
HE GRADUATEED FROM GONZAGA
UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE IN
THEN HE RETURNED ON A FULL
SCHOLARSHIP TO EARN HIS LAW
AFTER EARNING THAT DEGREE,
MR. RICE MOVED DIRECTLY INTO
PUBLIC SERVICE AS A TRIAL
ATTORNEY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
HE THEN RETURNED TO THE EASTERN
DISTRICT TO WORK IN THE U.S.
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CLIMBING THE
RANKS TO BECOME THE FIRST U.S.
ATTORNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
OFFICE.
AND HE IS CURRENTLY THE
HIGHEST-RANKING D.O.J. OFFICIAL
IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT.
OVER HIS 20 YEARS IN PRACTICE,
MR. RICE HAS TRIED OVER 1,000
CRIMINAL CASES DEALING WITH
NEARLY EVERY AREA OF FEDERAL
LAW.
HE HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND HIS
DUTIES, VOLUNTEERING ADDITIONAL
HOURS AT THE OFFICE, TAKING ON
EXTRA CASES, AND ESTABLISHING
THE LOCAL ANTITERRORISM ADVISORY
COUNCIL WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER
REPRESENTATIVES FROM EVERY LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE
EASTERN DISTRICT.
AS THE ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY,
HE HAS EARNED THE REPUTATION OF
BEING TOUGH ON CRIME, BUT ALSO
LEVELHEADED AND FAIR IN THE
CONDUCT OF HIS PROSECUTIONS.
MR. RICE CLEARLY MEETS THE
STANDARDS OF FAIRNESS,
EVENHANDEDNESS AND ADHERENCE TO
THE LAW WE EXPECT OF OUR FEDERAL
JUDGES.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I KNOW I
SPEAK ON BEHALF OF SO MANY IN
THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGAL
COMMUNITY IN SUPPORTING HIS
NOMINATION TODAY.
MR. RICE'S NOMINATION WAS THE
PRODUCT OF A BIPARTISAN
SELECTION COMMISSION THAT WE USE
IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
AND HE RECEIVED STRONG
ENDORSEMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE.
WE CONTINUE TO USE OUR
BIPARTISAN SELECTION PROCESS IN
WASHINGTON STATE DESPITE THE
FACT THAT IT DOES TAKE MORE TIME
AND A LOT OF EFFORT, BECAUSE IT
WORKS TO SELECT JUDGES OF THE
HIGHEST QUALITY AND BASE IT'S
INTENDED TO REMOVE PARTISANSHIP
IN THE SELECTION OF OUR JUDGES.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU WOULD
THINK THAT SOMEONE LIKE THOMAS
RICE WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE
THROUGH THIS PROCESS VERY
QUICKLY AND GET TO WORK ON THE
COURT.
WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF OUR
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE HAVE SLOWED DOWN AND
DELAYED THIS VOTE.
MR. RICE'S NOMINATION WAS
ACTUALLY REPORTED OUT OF THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IN OCTOBER
OF LAST YEAR.
UNANIMOUSLY, WITH STRONG
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, ALMOST FOUR
MONTHS AGO.
BUT HIS NOMINATION HAS SAT ON
THE EXECUTIVE CALENDAR BECAUSE
SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS REFUSE
TO CONSENT TO DEBATE AND VOTE ON
NOMINATIONS JUST LIKE HIS.
NOW I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY
OBJECTIONS FROM REPUBLICANS
ABOUT MR. RICE'S QUALIFICATIONS,
NOR HAVE I HEARD ANY REPUBLICAN
CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
UNFAIRLY BLOCKED FROM ANY
PROCESS.
THIS DELAY IS THE RESULT OF AN
UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT BY SENATE
REPUBLICANS TO DELAY AND BLOCK
ALL OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
JUDICIAL NOMINEES.
THERE ARE NOW 20 JUDICIAL
NOMINATIONS REPORTED FAVORABLY
BY THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THAT
ARE STILL SITTING AND WAITING ON
A FINAL SENATE VOTE.
14 OF THOSE NOMINATIONS HAVE
BEEN PENDING SINCE LAST YEAR,
AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED
BEFORE THE END OF LAST YEAR.
18 OF THOSE NOMINATIONS RECEIVED
STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, AND
THEY DESERVE TO MOVE THROUGH
THIS PROCESS IN A FAIR WAY AND
GET A VOTE HERE ON THE FLOOR OF
THE SENATE, ESPECIALLY WHEN BOTH
SIDES HAVE AGREED THEY'RE GOING
TO PASS.
BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH REPUBLICANS
ARE MAKING THIS ABOUT POLITICS
HERE IN D.C., THIS DOES HAVE A
REAL IMPACT ON OUR FAMILIES AND
THE COURT SYSTEM THROUGHOUT
AMERICA.
NEARLY 10% OF THE FEDERAL
JUDGESHIPS REMAIN VACATE RIGHT
NOW.
10%.
AMERICANS LIVE IN
DISTRICTS OR CIRCUITS THAT HAVE
A VACANCY THAT COULD BE FILLED
TODAY IF THE REPUBLICANS'
OBSTRUCTION WOULD END ON
NOMINATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
VETTED, CONSIDERED AND FAVORABLY
REPORTED BY THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, INCLUDING FAMILIES IN
THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MY HOME
STATE.
THIS KIND OF OBSTRUCTION IS NOT
GOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY, IT HURTS
FAMILIES' ABILITY TO ACCESS THE
COURTS IN A TIMELY FASHION, AND
IT PUTS POLITICS BEFORE -- AHEAD
OF OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
SO I URGE ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUES
TODAY TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF
THOMAS RICE.
HE'S A GREAT LAWYER.
HE'S A COMMUNITY LEADER WHO I
FEDERAL JUDGE.
AND I REALLY COME TODAY TO ALSO
CALL ON REPUBLICANS TO END THEIR
OBSTRUCTION, ALLOW US TO MOVE
FORWARD QUICKLY ON DEBATES AND
VOTES ON THESE JUDICIAL
NOMINATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
BACKLOGGED FOR FAR TOO LONG.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
QUORUM.
THE
ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
SUSPENDED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
WE LIVE IN A TIME
WHEN PUBLIC TRUST IN ALL OF OUR
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS IS AT AN
ALL-TIME LOW, AND UNFORTUNATELY
CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE.
RECENT POLLS INDICATE PUBLIC
CONFIDENCE IN CONGRESS IS AT
11%, WHICH IS A RECORD LOW
APPROVAL RATING.
AMERICANS HAVE BEEN SKEPTICAL OF
POLITICIANS IN GENERAL AND
CONGRESS IN PARTICULAR FROM THE
BEGINNING OF THIS REPUBLIC.
IT IS A HEALTHY SKEPTICISM WHICH
REFLECTS THE FREEDOMS THAT ARE
PART OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE
RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO DISAGREE WITH
LEADERSHIP WITH IMPUNITY UNDER
OUR CONSTITUTION, WITH SOME
LIMITATIONS.
AND SO I TAKE IT IN HISTORICAL
CONTEXT BUT STILL CANNOT ESCAPE
THE REALITY THAT THE NUMBERS
TODAY ARE LOWER THAN EVER.
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH IS NOT
THE ONLY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT
THAT THE PUBLIC HOLDS IN LOW
REGARD.
POLLS ALSO INDICATE THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT HAS RECENTLY
RECEIVED ITS SECOND-LOWEST
APPROVAL RATING IN HISTORY.
ONE WAY THAT THOSE OF US WHO
SERVE IN GOVERNMENT CAN INCREASE
PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IS
TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT HOW
AND THE STANDARDS TO
WHICH WE ARE HELD.
THE PASSAGE OF THE STOCK ACT IN
THE UNITED STATES SENATE IS AN
INDICATION OF CONTINUING EFFORT
TO ALERT THE PUBLIC ABOUT THINGS
THAT WE DO AS MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS WHICH BEAR SCRUTINY.
I MAKE A DISCLOSURE EACH YEAR
WHICH GOES BEYOND THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW, AND
MANY OTHERS DO AS WELL.
THE STOCK ACT WILL BRING MANY
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO AN EVEN
HIGHER LEVEL OF DISCLOSURE, AS
THEY SHOULD BE.
ONE WAY THAT WE CAN INCREASE OUR
CONFIDENCE IN THE INSTITUTIONS
OF GOVERNMENT IS TO ADDRESS
THOSE ASPECTS WHICH ADD TO
TRANSPARENCY AND ADD TO TRUST.
I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE
SUPREME COURT TO PROVIDE MORE
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
IN TWO SPECIFIC AREAS.
FIRST, THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD
ALLOW LIVE TELEVISION CAMERAS TO
BROADCAST OPEN-COURT SESSIONS SO
THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN SEE
FIRSTHAND HOW THE COURT OPERATES
AND ARRIVES AT CRITICAL
DECISIONS THAT LITERALLY CHANGE
OUR LIVES.
SECOND, THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD
FORMALLY ADOPT THE JUDICIAL CODE
OF CONDUCT WHICH CURRENTLY
APPLIES TO ALL OTHER FEDERAL
JUDGES, BUT FOR SOME
INEXPLICABLE REASON DOES NOT
COURT.
THE COURT SHOULD ALSO MAKE
PUBLIC THE OTHER ETHICS RULES IT
THE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
IMPACT THE LIVES OF EVERY
AMERICAN, BUT ACCESS TO OPEN
SESSIONS OF COURT -- OF THE
COURT IS INCREDIBLY LIMITED.
AS A RESULT, THE COURT'S
PROCEEDINGS AND THE WAY IT
MYSTERY.
MOST AMERICANS WILL NEVER SEE
THE SUPREME COURT AT WORK UNLESS
THEY'RE WILLING AND ABLE TO
TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON, D.C., WAIT
IN LINE FOR HOURS OR SOMETIMES
SLEEP OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT ON THE
PAVEMENT IN AN EFFORT TO SECURE
ONE OF 250 SEATS IN THE SUPREME
COURT COURTROOM.
IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY THAT
VALUES TRANSPARENCY AND
OPENNESS, THERE IS NO VALID
JUSTIFICATION FOR SUCH A
POWERFUL ELEMENT OF OUR
TO OPERATE LARGELY
OUTSIDE THE VIEW OF AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
I'M PLEASED TO HAVE PARTNERED
WITH SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY, MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE FROM IOWA,
THE CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM
ACT, S. 1995.
HE AND I CONTINUE THE WORK OF
OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, SENATOR
SPECTER, ON THIS IMPORTANT
OUR BILL WOULD REQUIRE
TELEVISING OF ALL OPEN SESSIONS
OF THE COURT UNLESS A MAJORITY
OF THE JUSTICES DETERMINE THAT
DOING SO WOULD VIOLATE DUE
PROCESS RIGHTS OF ONE OR MORE OF
THE PARTIES BEFORE THE COURT.
WE GIVE TO THE COURT THE LAST
WORD ON ANY GIVEN ARGUMENT OR
CASE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT
WILL BE PUBLIC AND TELEVISED.
IN THE COMING WEEKS THE SUPREME
COURT IS GOING TO T-R THE --
CONSIDER THE CONSTUTIONALITY OF
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES
OF LEGISLATION TO BE CONSIDERED
BY CONGRESS AND SIGNED BY THE
PRESIDENT IN DECADES: THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
DURING THE YEARLONG
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE ON HEALTH
CARE REFORM, EVERY HEARING,
FLOOR DEBATE AND VOTE WAS
ACCESSIBLE TO EVERY AMERICAN
WITH A TELEVISION SET OR A
WEBCAST AND A COMPUTER AT ALL
TIMES.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE
THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH
THE OPEN SESSION OF THE SUPREME
COURT AS IT CONSIDERS THE
CONSTUTIONALITY OF HEALTH CARE
REFORM LEGISLATION.
ON THIS POINT, THERE IS
BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.
DESPITE OUR STRONG DISAGREEMENTS
ABOUT THE SUBSTANCE OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS FROM BOTH
CHAMBERS HAVE WRITTEN TO THE
SUPREME COURT URGING THEM TO
PERMIT LIVE VIDEO AND AWED OWE
BROADCASTS OF THE HEALTH CARE
REFORM ARGUMENT.
THE COURT SHOULD HOW LIVE
BROADCASTS OF THE HEALTH CARE
REFORM HEARING AND ALL OTHER
OPEN SESSIONS OF COURT SINCE
EACH OF THE COURT'S DECISIONS
HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE A
TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT ON THE
LIVES OF SO MANY MEN'S.
THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY WEERKD
NOT ALLOW CAMERAS IN THE SUPREME
COURT BECAUSE ONLY BITS AND
PIECES WOULD BE TELL VERY LICED
AND THEY MIGHT BE TAKEN OUT OF
CONTEXT.
THAT REMIEWNDZS ME OF THE
EDITORIAL FROM A FEW YEARS AGO.
"KEEPING CAMERAS OUT TO PREVENT
PEOPLE FROM GETTING THE WRONG
IDEA IS A LITTLE LIKE REMOVING
THE PAINTINGS FROM AN ART MUSEUM
OUT OF FEAR THAT VISITORS MIGHT
NOT HAVE THE ART HISTORY
BACKGROUND TO APPRECIATE THEM."
SIMILAR ARGUMENTS WERE MADE WHEN
CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO
TELEVISING THESE PROCEEDINGS.
NEVERTHELESS, FOR TWO DECADES,
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AND
COMMITTEE MEETINGS OF THE HOUSE
AND SENATE HAVE BEEN BROADCAST
LIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
THE MAJORITY OF STATES PERMIT
LIVE VIDEO COVERAGE IN SOME OR
ALL OF THEIR COURTS.
IT IS TIME THE SUPREME COURT DID
THE SAME.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M SURE YOU HAVE
FOUND WHEN YOU'VE GONE BACK HOME
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WATCH
C-SPAN NONSTOP.
I HAVE LITERALLY HAD PEOPLE IN
MY HOMETOWN OF SPRINGFIELD COME
UP TO ME IN THE GROCERY STORE
AND SAY, "IS SENATOR BERNIE
SANDERS FEELING WELL?
I SAW HIM SITTING AT HIS DESK
PALE."
THEY FOLLOW IT WITH SUCH CLOSE
REGARD FOR THE MEMBERS AND THE
SPEECHES THAT IT'S A SURPRISE TO
MANY OF US WHO LIVE IN THIS
INSTITUTION AND WORK IN IT EVERY
DAY.
IN MY VIEW, THE CAMERAS IN THE
COURTROOM ACT IS ARE A
REASONABLE APPROACH THAT
BALANCES THE PUBLIC'S NEED FOR
INFORMATION AND TRANSPARENCY
WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
OF THOSE WHO ARE APPEAR BEFORE
THE COURT.
AS IN PAST YEARS, CAMERAS IN THE
COURTROOM ACT ENJOYS BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
I WANT TO ARE THANK MY
COLLEAGUES, SENATORS KLOBUCHAR,
CORNYN, THE PRESIDING OFFICER
SENATOR BLUMENTHAL, SENATOR
SCHUMER, HARKIN, GILLIBRAND AND
BEGICH FOR COSPONSORING THE
BILL.
THEY BHEEIVE THAT PUBLIC
SCRUTINY OF COURT PROCEEDINGS
WILL PRODUCE GREATER
TRANSPARENCY AND UNDERSTANDING.
I'D LIKE TO THANK SENATOR LEAHY
FOR SCHEDULING MY BILL, THE
CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM ACT,
FOR A VOTE IN THE JUDICIARY
IT WAS REPORTED OUT WITH A
STRONG BIPARTISAN VOTE, AND IT'S
NOW PENDING ON THE SENATE
CALENDAR.
THE BILL HAS BEEN CLEARED BY
EVERY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR FOR A
VOTE BY THE FULL SENATE.
I'M STILL HOPING WE CAN BRING IT
TO THE FLOOR AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO TOUGH ON A
RELATE ISSUE.
JUST AS THE SUPREME COURT
HEARINGS SHOULD BE TELEVISED,
SO, TOO, SHOULD THE COURT'S
ETHICAL STANDARD BE AVAILABLE
FOR REVIEW THE PUBLIC.
THE ETHICS RULES FOR ALL
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE
CLEAR AND PUBLIC.
WHEN ETHICS DECISIONS ARISE IN
THE SENATE -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE
SENATE EQUITY ETHICS COMMITTEE IS
ENRESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THE
RULES FOR OUR SENATORS AND
THEY ARE A MATTER OF PUBLIC
RECORD.
THAT CANNOT BE SAID FOR THE
STATES.
OUR SUPREME COURT HAS PUBLICLY
ADOPTED SOME LIMITED ETHICS
RULES BUT NOT OTHERS.
THE COURT DOES NOT HAVE AN
ETHICS OFFICE, NOR IS IT SUBJECT
TO THE JUDICIAL CONFERENCE WHICH
REGULATES ALL OTHER FEDERAL
JUDGES OUTSIDE THE SUPREME
INSTEAD, AS THE HIGHEST COURT IN
THE LAND, THE SUPREME COURT
ITSELF, AND IT ASKS THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO JUST TRUST
THEM.
OF COURSE, I HAVE THE HIGHEST
RESPECT FOR THE JUSTICES'
ABILITIES AND THEIR JUDGMENT,
AND IT'S BEEN MY HONOR TO COME
KNOW SOME OF THESE JUSTICES
PERSONALLY OVER THE YEARS.
BUT IF THE PUBLIC IS ASKED TO
TRUST THE JUSTICES TO POLICE
THEMSELVES, WE'RE AT LEAST
ENTITLED TO KNOW THE RULES THAT
THEY PLAY BY.
TO ITS CREDIT, SOME OF THE
SUPREME COURT'S ETHICS RULES ARE
THROUGH AN INTERNAL RESOLUTION,
THE SUPREME COURT HAS ADOPTED
THE SAME FINANCIAL RESTRICTIONS
THAT APPLY TO ALL OTHER FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES.
I RECENTLY SENT A LETTER WITH
SENATORS LEAHY, WHITEHOUSE,
FRANKEN, BLUMENTHAL TO JOHN
ROBERTS ASKING THEM TO PUBLICLY
RELEASE ONE OF THE COURT'S
RESOLUTIONS WHICH SAYS THAT THE
JUSTICES WILL FOLLOW THE SAME
REGULATIONS ON OUTSIDE
EMPLOYMENT, HONORARIA AND INCOME
WHICH APPLY TO OTHER FEDERAL
THE CHIEF JUSTICE AGREED TO OUR
REQUEST AND PUBLICLY RELEASED
THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IT
WAS ADOPTED IN 1991.
I APPLAUD CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS'
ACTION.
I ENCOURAGE HIM AND THE OTHER
JUSTICES TO CONTINUE ON THIS
PATH BY RELEASING ALL OF THEIR
ETHICS RULES.
THERE IS MORE WORK FOR THE
SUPREME COURT TO DO TO INCREASE
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE COURT SHOULD EITHER ADOPT A
COURT RTLE AGREEING TO FOLLOW
THE JUDICIAL CODE OF CONDUCT,
THE SAME ETHICS CODE THAT
APPLIES TO ALL OTHER FEDERAL
JUDGES, OR ADOPT AND PUBLICLY
DISCLOSE THEIR OWN ETHICS CODE.
MANY HAVE CALLED FOR THE SUPREME
COURT TO ADOPT A JUDICIAL COVED
IN RESPONSE, CHIEF JUSTICE
ROBERTS VS COMPLAINED THAT THE
JUSTICES USE THE CODE AS ONE
SOURCE OF GUIDANCE BUT NOT THE
ONLY SOURCE TO DECIDE ETHICS
QUESTIONS.
GIVE THAN THEY ALREADY APPLY THE
CODE IN PRACTICE, IT SEEMS LIKE
A LOGICAL NEXT STEP FOR THE
COURT TO ADOPT ITS OWN
RESOLUTION FORMALLY AFFIRMING
THIS PRACTICE, OR THEY CAN ADOPT
A RESOLUTION MAKING IT CLEAR
WHICH ETHICS RULES DO OR DO NOT
APPLY.
ALL OF THE JUSTICES DESERVE
RESPECT FOR THE DIFFICULT AND
WEIGHTY DECISIONS THAT THEY
POWERFUL MEMBERS OF
GOVERNMENT, IT IS NOT TOO MUCH
TO ASK OF THEM TO MAKE THEIR
ETHICAL STANDARDS OPEN AND
CLEAR.
BY MAKING THEIR ETHICS RULES
MORE TRANSPARENT, THE JUSTICES
WILL FOSTER GREATER PUBLIC TRUST
AND CONFIDENCE IN THE COURT AND
ITS DECISIONS.
IN CONCLUSION, LET ME EMPHASIZE
THAT I HAVE A HIGH REGARD FOR
THE SUPREME COURT AND ALL OF ITS
JUSTICES.
I DO NOT INTEND TO QUESTION OR
SUGGESTIONS.
BUT LET'S BE CLEAR:
WE LIVE IN AN ERA WHERE THERE IS
A GREAT DEAL OF MISTRUST IN
GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS,
STARTING WITH CONGRESS, BUT
THROUGH ALL BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, MODERN
TECHNOLOGY ENABLES US TO PROVIDE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH MORE
ACCESS TO THE WORKINGS OF
GOVERNMENT WHICH COULD HELP TO
REDUCE SOME OF THIS MISTRUST.
I AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES IN
THE SENATE HAVE WORKED FOR MANY
YEARS TO INCREASE OPENNESS AND
TRANSPARENCY IN CONGRESS AND THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
I ENCOURAGE THE SUPREME COURT TO
TAKE THE SAME APPROACH.
TELEVISING SUPREME COURT
THE COURT'S ETHICS RULES WOULD
BE A GOOD START.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TO
BE ABLE TO WATCH THE SUPREME
COURT ARGUMENTS IN CASES THAT
CAN AFFECT THEIR LIVES, AND THEY
DESERVE TO KNOW THE ETHICAL
STANDARDS THAT GOVERN THE COURT
WHEN IT DECIDES CASES.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK THAT THE
NEXT STATEMENT I'M ABOUT TO MAKE
IS PLACED SEPARATE IN THE RECORD
FROM THIS OPENING STATEMENT
RELATIVE TO CAMERA IN THE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
AS I WENT HOME IN
WEEKEND, MR. PRESIDENT, I
MENTIONED I.E.D. ON THE FLOOR --
I MENTIONED YESTERDAY ON THE
FLOOR I SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF
TIME IN DEEP SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
WHERE SOME DEVASTATING, FATAL
TORNADOES HIT LAST WEEK.
AS I SAID THEN, THE AMAZING
OUTPOURING OF VOLUNTEERISM AND
SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE FAR AND WIDE
WAS INSPIRING TO MEEVMENT IT IS -- IS INSPIRING
TO MEEVMENT IT IS GREAT TO THAT
IN MY STATE
RALLIED TO HELP THE VICTIMS.
THERE WERE FORMAL ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE THE AMERICAN RED CROSS,
INFORMAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
OPERATION BLESSINGS, THERE WAS A
METHODIST CHURCH WITH ABOUT 20
OF THEIR PARISHIONERS, SOME
CHILDREN WITH RAKES DOING
EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO HELP
IT WAS INSPIRING TO SEE THAT,
AND I WAS HAPPY FOR THAT.
BUT I WILL AT THE YOU THAT IN
ADDITION TO THE TORNADO ISSUE
THAT WE FACED, THE ONE THING
THAT HIT PEOPLE BETWEEN THE EYES
IN ILLINOIS THIS LAST WEEK WERE
GASOLINE PRICES.
I WAS UP IN THE SUBURBS OF
CHICAGO ON FRIDAY EVENING AND
SAW A GAS STATION WITH REGULAR
GASOLINE FOR $4.09.
I SAW SOME LOWER PRICES OVER THE
WEEKEND, BUT THAT WAS THE HIGH
HIGH-WATER MARK, OR HIGH
OBSERVED.
THIS.
GASOLINE PRICES LITERALLY AFFECT
THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND
FAMILIES AS WELL.
THEY ALSO HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT
I ASKED THE VICE PRESIDENT OF
WALMART ABOUT MONITORING RETAIL
SALES AND HOW TO INCREASE RETAIL
SALES, AND HE TOLD ME THAT WITH
ALL OF THE HUNDREDS AND
THOUSANDS OF WALMART STORES AND
EMPLOYEES, THAT THEY LITERALLY
REALTIME.
HE SAID, I CAN OAK OBSERVE THE SALES
PATTERN IN A STORY SOMEWHERE IN
AMERICA AND -- IN A STORE
SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA AND TELL
YOU WITHIN A FEW PENNIES OR
IS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE PUT THE MONEY INTO THE
TANK INSTEAD OF ON THE COUNTER
AND THEY STAY HOME INSTEAD OF
GOING OUT TO SHOP.
THAT'S HOW THE PRICE OF GASOLINE
RECOVERY.
I'VE LISTENED TO SO MANY OF THE
COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON
THE FLOOR HERE BY INDIVIDUALS ON
THE OTHER SIDE, THEIR APPROACH
ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF
GASOLINE PRICES AND WHAT TO DO
WITH THEM.
AND I SOMETIMES WONDER -- I SEE
THE SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA IS
HERE.
I SOMETIMES WONDER IF WE'RE
READING THE SAME BASIC
INFORMATION.
KEYSTONE PIPELINE COULD SERVE A
VALUABLE PURPOSE BUT TO BELIEVE
THAT THIS IS GOING TO SOMEHOW
HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT OR ANY
MAJOR IMPACT ON GASOLINE PRICES
IS NOT REALISTIC.
CURRENTLY THE PIPELINES FROM
CANADA THAT EXPORT THESE OIL
SANDS TO THE UNITED STATES ARE
OPERATING AT LESS THAN 50% OF
CAPACITY, SO THERE IS PLENTY OF
ROOM FOR MORE OIL SANDS TO COME
TO THE UNITED STATES FOR
IN FACT, ONE OF THE PIPER LINES
GOES DIRECTLY TO MY -- ONE OF
THE PIPELINES GOES DIRECTLY TO
MY STATE.
THIS REFINERY HAS CAPACITY THAT
COULD BE USED TO PROCESS THESE
CANADIAN OIL SANDS RIGHT NOW.
SO TO ARGUE THIS KEYSTONE
PIPELINE IS SOMEHOW HOLDING BACK
THE EXPORT OF CANADIAN OIL SANDS
THAT MIGHT HAVE AN ACT IMPACT ON THE
PRICE OF GASOLINE IS JUST NOT
CORRECT.
AN
INCREASE IN THE REFINING OF OIL
IN THIS NATION.
IT'S TWO YEARS AFTER THE B.P.
SPILL AND IT'S I THINK TIME FOR
US TO REFLECT ON THE FACT THAT
WE NEVER, EVER WANT THAT TO
HAPPEN AGAIN.
THE DEVASTATION CAUSED TO SO
MANY LIVES, TO SO MANY
BUSINESSES, AND SO MUCH IN TERMS
OF WILDLIFE WILL NOT BE
PERHAPS IT NEVER WILL BE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T ALLOW
THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
WE SHOULDN'T EXALT SPEED OVER
SAFETY.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS
WE MOVE FORWARD TO DEVELOP OUR
ENERGY RESOURCES -- BOTH OIL AND
GAS -- WE DO IT IN A SENSE IT
WILL-- WE DO ITIN A SENSIBLE WAY.
I HOPE WE AAGREE THAT THAT IS
THE WAY DO IT SLONG WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION PREMIUM -- AS
IT WITH THE
ADMINISTRATION POLICY.
WOULD THE SENATOR
YIELD FOR A QUESTION?
I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO YIELD.
I WANT TO THANK MY
COLLEAGUE FOR PUTTING THE GAS
PRICE SITUATION INTO THE LARGER
PICTURE AND ALSO NOTE THAT ONE
OTHER FACTOR PLAYING A ROLE IS
DEFINITELY MANIPULATION DUE TO
SOME OF THE INSTABILITY IN THE
WORLD THAT WE ARE -- OUR
PRESIDENT IS CERTAINLY DEALING
WITH AND MANY OF US HERE.
THE INSTABILITY IN IRAN, THE
FACT THAT WE'VE GOT SANCTIONS,
THE FACT THAT THERE'S ALSO A
GREATER DEMAND COMING FOR THIS
PRODUCT FROM CHINA AND OTHER
VERY HIGH-GROWTH AREAS.
SO I SAY TO MY FRIEND, IS HE
AWARE -- I KNOW HE IS, BUT
BECAUSE OF THE RULES, I HAVE TO
ASK IT IN A QUESTION -- IS HE
AWARE THAT WE ARE PRODUCING FAR
MORE OF THIS RESOURCE, OIL, IN
COUNTRY THAN WE HAVE DONE
SINCE 2008; WE HAVE MANY MORE
RIGS OUT THERE?
AND IS MY COLLEAGUE ALSO AWARE
THAT THE OIL COMPANIES ARE
SITTING ON WELL OVER 50 MILLION
ACRES OF LEASES THAT THEY'RE NOT
-- THEY'RE INTO THE DRILLING ON
WHEN THEY COULD?
AND THE LAST POINT, IS MY FRIEND
AWARE THAT WE ARE EXPORTING MORE
THAN WE EVER HAD FROM AMERICA
AND THAT'S ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT
POINT?
THOSE WHO SAY "DRILL, BABY,
DRILL," THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER IF
IT'S "EXPORT, BABY, EXPORT.
REQUESTS "THE FACT IS, WE ARE
DRILLING MORE AND MORE IS
LEAVING AMERICA.
SO I SAY TO MY FRIENDS HERE,
WHERE HAVE ALL THESE PACK PHAK -- SO
I SAY TO MY FRIEND HERE, IS HE
AWARE OF ALL THESE FACTORS?
AND IS HE CONCERNED ABOUT
PLAYING MORE POLITICS WITH THIS
BECAUSE DRILL, BABY, DRILL IS
NOT THE ANSWER.
WE ONLY HAVE 2% OF THE WORLD'S
PROVEN SUPPLY OF OIL.
I WONDER IF MY FRIEND COULD
IN RESPONSE, I'D
LIKE CONSENT OF THE CHAIR TO
ENTER INTO THE RECORD "THE NEW
YORK TIMES" EDITORIAL OF MONDAY
MARCH 5, 2012, ENTITLED "DRILL,
BABY, DRILL: REDUX."
I'D LIKE READ A PORTION.
"DOMESTIC CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION
IS ACTUALLY UP FROM 5.4 MILLION
BARRELS TO 5.59 MILLION NOW.
IMPORTS HAVE DROPPED BY WHO ARE
THAN 10% IN THE SAME PERIOD
DESPITE A TEMPORARY SLOWDOWN IN
EXPLORATION IN THE GULF OF
MEXICO AFTER THE B.P. OIL
THE NUMBER OF RIGS IN AMERICAN
OILFIELDS HAS QUADRUPLED OVER
THREE YEARS.
THERE HAVE BEEN NEW DISCOVERIES
AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
PROMISED TO OPEN UP MORE
OFFSHORE RESERVES.
TO SAY THAT MR. OBAMA HAS DENIED
INDUSTRY ACCESS IS NONSENSE.
EQUALLY NONSENSICAL IS THE
REPUBLICAN CLAIM THAT MR. OBAMA
HAS PROPOSED THE REPEAL OF $4
BILLION IN ANNUAL TSM BREAKS FOR
AND GAS INDUSTRY WHOSE
FIVE BIGGEST PLOIRS POSTED $137
BILLION IN PROFITS LAST YEAR
WOULD DRIVE PRICES UPWARD.
AS IS NEWT GINGRICH'S CLAIM THAT
A PROPOSAL NOW TAKING SHAPE IN
THE E.P.A. AND FIERCELY OPPOSED
BY REFINERS TO LOWER SULFUR
CONTENT WOULD ADD 25 CENTS TO
THE COST OF A GALLON.
EXPERTS SAY IT WOULD ADD ABOUT A
PENNY.
OIL PRICES ARE SET ON THE WORLD
MARKET BY FORCES LARGELY BEYOND
AMERICA'S CONTROL.
CHIEF AMONG THESE IS SOARING
DEMAND IN COUNTRY'S LIKE CHINA.
UNREST IN OIL-PRODUCING
COUNTRIES IS ANOTHER ANOTHER FACTOR.
GAS COULD JUMP TO $5 IF THE
WORLD SUPPLY.
A COUNTRY THAT CONSUMES," AS THE
SENATOR NOTED, "MORE THAN 20 PRS
OF THE WORLD'S OIL SUPPLY BUT
OWNS 2% OF ITS RESERVES CANNOT
OF HIGH PRICES
UNSTABLE COUNTRIES.
THE ONLY PLAUSIBLE
STRATEGY IS TO KEEP PRODUCTION
UP WHILE CUTTING CONSUMPTION AND
EMBARKING ON A SERIOUS PROGRAM
OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS.
LET ME ADD TO THIS CONVERSATION
A TOPIC WHICH I THINK WE HAVE
BEEN LOATHE TO ADDRESS ON THE
FLOOR BECAUSE OF ITS POLITICAL
CONTROVERSY WHICH WAS DRIVEN
HOME TO ME OVER THE WEEKEND.
I BELIEVE OUR ENERGY
CONVERSATION HAS TO PARALLEL AN
ENVIRONMENTAL CONVERSATION.
WE HAVE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE
CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY AND THE
IMPACT IT HAS ON THE WORLD THAT
WE LIVE IN.
I WOULD SAY TO THE SENATOR FROM
CALIFORNIA THAT IN THE MIDWEST
WE LIVE IN TORNADO COUNTRY.
I WAS RAISED WITH THEM.
I KNOW HOW TO RUN TO THE
BASEMENT WHEN YOU HEAR THE AIR
RAID SIRENS AND PROTECT YOUR
CHILDREN AND WHICH ROOMS TO GO
IN AND WHICH CORNER OF THE
IT'S BUILT INTO OUR LIFESTYLE IN
THE MIDWEST.
SO FAR THIS YEAR WE HAVE HAD
OVER 272 REPORTED TORNADOES.
IN THE TORNADO SEASON.
LAST YEAR 50.
272 TO 50.
I WOULD JUST SAY TO ANYONE WHO
WOULD LIKE TO COME CHALLENGE ME,
IS THIS WORTH ASKING A QUESTION
OR TWO?
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE
EXTREME WEATHER PATTERNS THAT WE
ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF?
IN A GIVEN YEAR YOU MIGHT SAY,
WELL, THOSE THINGS HAFPLT BUT AS
THESE PAT -- THOSE THINGS
BUT AS THESE PATTERNS
PHAOERPBLG, LAST YEAR CHICAGO,
THE BIGGEST BLIZZARD IN ITS
HISTORY AND IN JUNE THE LARGEST
RAINFALL IN AN HOUR IN HISTORY.
THIS IS NOT THE WORLD WE GREW UP
THINGS ARE DIFFERENT OUT THERE.
ARE THESE WITHIN OUR CONTROL OR
BEYOND OUR CONTROL?
I THINK WE HAVE TO RELY ON
EXPERTS AND SCIENTISTS TO LEAD
US IN THAT CONVERSATION.
BUT LET'S AT LEAST EMBARK ON
THAT CONVERSATION BY
UNDERSTANDING THE CONNECTION
ENVIRONMENT.
AS WE FIND MORE EFFICIENT WAYS
TO MOVE OUR CARS AND MOVE OUR
ECONOMY, AS WE BETTER THAN LESS
ENERGY IN DOING IT, THERE'S LESS
DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
THAT IS A POSITIVE THING.
IT ALSO REWARDS INNOVATION,
CREATION AND NEW BUSINESS AND
INDUSTRY.
SO THE UNITED STATES CAN LEAD IN
THIS AREA AS WE'VE LED IN OTHER
AREAS BEFORE.
I THANK THE SENATOR FROM
CALIFORNIA.
SHE IS ON THE FLOOR WITH A BILL
SHE'S SPOKEN OF TIME AND TIME
AGAIN, THE NEW FEDERAL
TRANSPORTATION BILL.
THERE IS NO SINGLE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT WILL CREATE
MORE JOBS, SPECIFIC JOBS THAT
CAN BE IDENTIFIED, THAN THIS
BILL.
WE HAVE SPENT TWO WEEKS,
MR. PRESIDENT -- TWO WEEKS, IF
I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
THREE?
WOULD KNOW BETTER.
THREE WEEKS ON THE FLOOR OF THE
SENATE ARGUING ABOUT
CONTRACEPTION ON THE FEDERAL
HIGHWAY BILL.
ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE
ARE GOING TO EMBARK ON A FOREIGN
POLICY AMENDMENT TO THE FEDERAL
HIGHWAY BILL.
THREE WASTED WEEKS TRYING TO
COME TO A CONCLUSION ABOUT A
HANDFUL OF AMENDMENTS.
THIS IS WHAT GIVES OUR,
UNFORTUNATELY GIVES OUR SENATE A
BAD NAME.
WE SHOULD HAVE RESOLVED THIS
LONG AGO AND MOVED TO THIS BILL
SO THAT WE CAN SAY IF YOU WANT A
REAL JOBS BILL, A REAL JOBS
WAY.
TO DO IT, WE NEED BIPARTISAN
AT NOON THERE WILL BE A VOTE.
THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THE
PROCEEDINGS CAN TAKE A LOOK, SEE
HOW MANY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE WILL SUPPORT MOVING
FORWARD ON THIS BILL.
I THINK OUR EARLIER VOTE WAS 85,
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, 85 SENATORS
WHO SAID LET'S MOVE FORWARD ON
THIS BILL.
I HOPE WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN.
MR. PRESIDENT, I AT THIS TIME
WOULD MAKE NINE KWRAOURBGS FOR
COMMITTEES TO -- UNANIMOUS
CONSENT REQUESTS FOR COMMITTEES
TO MEET DURING TODAY'S SESSION
OF THE SENATE AND ASK THAT THESE
REQUESTS BE AGREED TO AND
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR AND SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM GEORGIA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE QUORUM CALL BE
VITIATED.
OBJECTION.
--
AND BE ASKED TO
SPEAK IN MORNING BUSINESS.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A SUBJECT
THAT WAS TALKED TO ME ABOUT A
LOT DURING THE PRESIDENT'S DAY
BREAK IN GEORGIA.
I SPENT MOST OF THAT WEEK
TRAVELING MY STATE.
DID TOWN HALL MEETINGS LISTENING
TO GEORGIANS FROM SAVANNAH
COUNTY AND MURRAY COUNTY AND
EVERYWHERE ELSE IN BETWEEN.
IT WAS EASY TO TELL WHAT THE
ISSUE FOR THE AVERAGE FAMILY IS,
AND THAT'S WHAT THE PRICE OF
GASOLINE IS DOING TO THEIR
BUDGET.
GASOLINE PRICES CONTINUE TO
I HAVE A CHEVROLET SEIVE RAD
DOUGH PICK -- SILVERADO AND I
HAD TO FILL IT UP.
IT COSTS $78 TO FILL IT UP AND
IT WASN'T TOTAL LIMBTY.
THAT IS A -- TOTALLY EMPTY.
I THINK OF KWRAEFR EVERY FARMER
OR STUDENT AND THINKING ABOUT
HOW MUCH THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR
GASOLINE, I REALIZE HOW HARMFUL
CURRENT GAS PRICES ARE AND I
GO.
WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY
POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES OF
TO THE
DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY LEADER
SPEAK BEFORE ME.
HE MADE AN INTERESTING COMMENT
ABOUT THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE.
HE SAID EVEN IF WE APPROVE THE
KEYSTONE PIPELINE, IT WOULDN'T
DO ANYTHING FOR GAS PRICES
TODAY.
HE WELL, HE'S RIGHT BECAUSE
YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD THE
BUT IF WE HAD APPROVED IT TWO
YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS OPERATING,
WE'D HAVE 70,000 BARRELS OF
PETROLEUM MORE A DAY COMING INTO
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
SO TO SAY THAT JUST BECAUSE IT
THE WOULDN'T BE READY TODAY
DOESN'T HELP GAS PRICES, IS NOT
LOOKING TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE
BALL.
IN THE ABSENCE OF A
COMPREHENSIVE POLICY, IN THE
ABSENCE OF FORESIGHT, IN THE
ABSENCE OF PUTTING ALL THE
GENERAL THINGS ON TABLE THAT
GENERATE ENERGY, WE'RE PUTTING
OFF THE DAY THAT THE UNITED
STATES IS ENERGY-INDEPENDENT.
WHAT GOES ON IN IRAN, IN THE
STRAITS OF WHO ARE MUSE, IN
VENEZUELA AFFECTS THE
SPECULATION ON GASOLINE AND
PETROLEUM WHICH AFFECTS THE
PRICES OF GASOLINE IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
ONE OF THESE BURN
GAS RIGHT AND LEFT, DRILL AS
MUCH AS YOU CAN, FOSSIL FUELS
ARE FINE.
I KNOW WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH
I DRIVE A HYBRID HIGH VEHICLE, NOT
BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO DRIVE A
POINT, BUT BECAUSE I THINK IT
MAKES SENSE.
ANY TIME YOU CAN REDUCE CARBON,
THAT MAKES SENSE.
BUT CAN'T ELIMINATE IT.
WE'VE GOT TO PUT ALL SOURCES OF
ENERGY ON THE TABLE AND ONE OF
THOSE IS TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE
FOR GASOLINE AND PETROLEUM IN
THE DOMESTIC UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, OFF THE GULF OF MEXICO,
OFF OF OUR COASTLINE, IN OUR
NATIONAL LANDS THAT WE OWN WHERE
WE KNOW WE HAVE SHALE OIL, WHERE
WE ALSO KNOW WE HAVE OIL GAS.
SO WE'RE EXPANDING OUR SUPPLY
AND REDUCING OR DEPENDENCE ON
FOREIGN EXPORTS.
THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES NEED TO HAVE A
POLICY THAT
EMBRACES ALLEMBRACES ALL FORMS OF ENERGY.
TO THE CREDIT OF THE PRESIDENT,
HE APPROVED NOT TOO LONG AGO THE
LOAN GUARANTEES ON REACTORS 3
AND 4 AT PLANT VOGEL.
THE FIRST ENERGY REACTORS BUILT
MILE ISLAND.
NUCLEAR IS A IMPAR BONN-FREE
GENERATION OF ENERGY.
EVERY TIME WE CAN EXPAND OUR
ENERGY CAPABILITY, WE ARE
LESSENING OUR DEPENDENCE ON
FOSSIL FUEL TO BE BURNED.
THE MARCELLA SHALE -- WE HAVE
GONE FROM HAVING A FINITE SUPPLY
OF ENERGY GAS TO AN INFINITE
SUPPLY.
YET BECAUSE THERE IS SOME
CONTEST OVER WHETHER HYDRAULIC
FRABBING FRACTURE IS GOOD OR NOT
GOOD, WE ARE NOT EXPLORING
NATURAL GAS LIKE WE SHOULD.
WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING IT AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT IS A
CLEANER-BURNING FUEL THAN IS
PETROLEUM, LIQUID PETROLEUM, AND
WE OUGHT TO BE DOING RENEWABLE
ENERGY WHERE EVER IT MAKES SENSE
BUT WE'VE SEEN RENEWABLE ENERGY
HAS ITS LIMIT.
WE SPEND $6 BILLION A YEAR
SUBSIDIZING ETHANOL IN HOPES IT
WOULD REDUCE FOREIGN EXPORTS BUT
IT HASN'T.
TWO-CYCLE ENGINE.
BUT ETHANOL HAS ITS PLACE.
IT IS SCALABLE ON THE FARNL.
SOLAR IS A GOOD SOURCE OF ENERGY
WHERE IT WORKS.
SUPPLEMENT.
IT IS NOT A PRIMARY SUPPLIER
SOURCE.
WIND IS GREAT BUT IT IS ONLY
GREAT IN THE MIDWEST AND DOWN
TOWARDS THE SOUTHWEST.
BUT WE OUGHT TO BE USING IT AND
ENCOURAGING T WHAT WE OUGHT TO
BE DOING IS ENCOURAGING ALL
FORMS OF EXPLORATION, ALL FORMS
OF GENERATION, AND ALL OF THEM
DOMESTICALLY IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
THAT WILL BRING DOWN GAS PRICES.
THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY
LEADER -- MAJORITY WHIP WAS
RIGHT, IT WON'T BRING IT DOWN
TODAY BECAUSE WE'VE PUT OFF
HAVING AN ENERGY POLICY.
ONCE WE DEVELOP AN ENERGY POLICY
AND STICK TO IT AND SPLOARL ALL
FORMS OF FOSSIL FUEL AND COAL
HASN'T ENERGY, THEN WE
HAVE A PLETHORA OF ENERGY AND
LESS COMPETITION WITH FOREIGN
OIL WHERE THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA NEEDS TO BE.
WE ALL REALIZE WHAT'S GOING ON
IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS THE CAUSE
OF MOST OF THE INCREASE IN THE
COST OF OIL BECAUSE OF
SPECULATION AND EVERY TIME WE
CAN IMPROVE OUR POSITION AND BE
FREE OF THOSE INFLUENCES IS
BETTER FOR THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
IT'S BETTER FOR THE AVERAGE
CITIZENS THAT WE ALL REPRESENT.
SO MY MESSAGE FROM THE PEOPLE I
REPRESENT IN GEORGIA, THE WUNSZ
I TALK TO ALL DURING THE
PRESIDENT'S DAY RECESS IN THAT
WEEK, IS DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN
TO EXPAND YOUR SUPPLY OF ENERGY
WHERE EVER YOU CAN FIND IT.
TAKE US OUT OF A DEPENDENCE ON
FOREIGN IMPORTS AND GET US
INDEPENDENT OF FOREIGN OIL.
THAT WILL BRING DOWN THE COST OF
OIL AND AS A BY-PRODUCT THAT
WILL BE IN THE BEST NATIONAL
SECURITY INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE
OF THE UNITED STATES OF MECIALG.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME AND SUGGEST
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM REMARK ARC.
I ASK THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU.
AS FEBRUARY CAME TO A CLOSE, IT
LEFT BEHIND AN UNFORTUNATE NEW
RECORD.
$3.73 PER GALLON, THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE FOR UNLEADED GASOLINE
WAS THE HIGHEST EVER RECORDED
DURING THIS MONTH.
PRIOR TO THIS MORNING'S DROP OF
.03 CENTS, GAS PRICES HAD BEEN
ON THE RISE FOR 27 STRAIGHT
DAYS.
JUST THREE YEARS, GAS PRICES
HAVE DAWNLDZ THEY ARE NOT
STOPPING THERE.
BACK HOME IN ARKANSAS, THE
AVERAGE PRICE OF A GALLON OF
REGULAR GASOLINE IS UP OVER 25
CENTS FROM A MONTH AGO MANY
ANALYSTS ARE PREDICTING WE WILL
HIT $4 A GALLON BY SUMMER.
THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT DOES TO
THE ECONOMY.
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND OWNERS,
IT MEANS MUCH HIGHER OVERHEAD.
THOSE COSTS ULTIMATELY GET
PASSED ON TO THE CONSUMERS.
IN VERY DIRE CASES, WHICH MANY
OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
FACING TODAY, DUE TO REDUCED
PROFIT MARGINS, THREATS OF
AND INCREASED
REGULATIONS, HIGH GAS PRICES
COULD BE THE FINAL STRAW.
IT PUTS EXTRA PRESSURE ON THE
BUDGETS OF ARDENT, CASH-STRAPPED
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS READING
A STORY FROM THE BOONVILLE
DEMOCRAT THAT DOCUMENTED THE
NEGATIVE AFFECTS THAT THE PRICE
OF GAS HAS ON LOGAN COUNTY,
ARKANSAS.
THE COUNTY
JUDGE NOTED THAT IF GAS PRICES
REACHED $4, IT'S GOING TO TAKE
AWAY FROM THE OTHER THINGS THAT
NEED TO BE DONE.
IN BLYT H EVILLE, ARKANSAS, A
300-MILE TREK FROM BOONVILLE,
VOICED.
IN THE BLYTHEVILLE CARRIER NEWS,
THE FORMER MAYOR DESCRIBED HOW
IN RECENT YEARS, DESPITE EFFORTS
TO USE MORE FUEL-EFFICIENT
VEHICLES AND TO CUT DOWN ON IDLE
TIME, THE CITY WOULD STILL END
UP HAVING TO AMEND THE BUDGET AT
TO THE
HIGH FUEL COSTS.
AND FOR HARDWORKING ARKANSANS,
IT IS CHANGING THE WAY THAT THEY
LIVE AND NOT FOR THE BETTER.
IT IS ESPECIALLY PAINFUL FOR OUR
SENIORS AND SINGLE PARENTS WHO
LIVE ON FIXED INCOMES.
THE HIGH PRICE OF GAS IS ONE OF
THE TOP ISSUES I'M HEARING ABOUT
IN CALLS AND LETTERS DURING MY
VISITS ACROSS THE STATE.
I ALSO RECENTLY POSED THE
QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE RISING
PRICE OF GASOLINE IN ARKANSAS IS
PAGE.
I WANT TO SHARE A FEW OF THE
RESPONSES THAT I RECEIVED.
TIM IN ROGERS, ARKANSAS, SAID
"THE MORE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR
GAS, THE LESS MONEY WE HAVE FOR
THE OTHER NECESSITIES AND
PLEASURES OF LIFE AND LIVING."
MELODY IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS SAID
"THE IT -- IT COST OUR FAMILY
TO FILL UP THEIR
TRUCK AND SAID THEY LIMITED
THEIR DRIVING TO THE DOCTOR AND
THE GROCERY STORE.
IT GOES ON FROM THERE.
MANY RESPONDENTS SAID THAT IT
LIMITS THEIR SPENDING AT PLACES
LIKE THE GROCERY STORE AND WILL
AFFECT THEIR VACATION PLANS.
THE OVERWHELMING COMMON THREAD
IN THOSE RESPONSES IS THAT
WASHINGTON NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THE HIGH COST OF GAS.
THERE IS NO DENYING THAT THE
RISING FUEL PRICES ARE HURTING
AMERICANS AND FURTHER
COMPLICATING OUR EFFORTS TO
REVITALIZE THE ECONOMY.
THERE IS ALSO NO DENYING THAT WE
ARE NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH TO
ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
AMERICANS WANT TO KNOW WHY,
WHILE THEIR GAS BILLS MOUNT
WASHINGTON DOES STILL NOT HAVE
IT IS PAST TIME THAT WE MOVE
FORWARD ON ONE AND THAT BEGINS
WITH INCREASING OUR ENERGY
PRODUCTION HERE AT HOME.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST RECOVERABLE
RESOURCES OF OIL, GAS AND COAL
OF ANY NATION ON THE PLANET.
RECOVERABLE RESOURCES
ARE LARGER THAN THE COMBINED
SUPPLY OF SAUDI ARABIA, CHINA,
AND CANADA.
DESPITE THAT, WE DEPEND ON
HOSTILE REGIMES AND NATIONS WHO
HAVE AGENDAS THAT ARE OFTEN AT
ODDS WITH OUR OWN FOR MUCH OF
OUR OIL.
THE CURRENT TENSION BETWEEN
ISRAEL AND IRAN ONLY SERVES TO
MAKE MATTERS WORSE.
IF ISRAEL STRIKES IRAN, THERE IS
A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE IRANIANS
ATTACK SAUDI ARABIA'S OIL FIELDS
TO RETALIATE AGAINST THE WEST.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
THE KEYSTONE X.L. PIPELINE,
ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE,
ANWR, AND DRILLING IN THE
EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO ALONE
WOULD PRODUCE THREE MILLION
BARRELS OF OIL PER DAY.
THE LACK OF WILL IN WASHINGTON
TO INCREASE PRODUCTION HERE AT
HOME IS UNNECESSARY.
IT IS A LITERAL ROADBLOCK.
OUR ECONOMY FROM
PICKING UP, INCREASES THE COST
AMERICANS PAY FOR FUEL, AND IT
CREATES AN ENORMOUS LIABILITY
SECURITY.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS SAID THAT
INCREASED DOMESTIC OIL
PRODUCTION IS UNNECESSARY AS HE
CONTENDS IT IS AT THE HIGHEST IT
HAS BEEN IN EIGHT YEARS.
HOWEVER, YOU ONLY GET THOSE
NUMBERS BY RELYING HEAVILY ON
PRODUCTION, ON PRIVATE LANDS IN
NORTH DAKOTA, TEXAS, AND ALASKA.
WE ARE SIMPLY NOT USING THE
RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE BEEN
LANDS.
WE CAN MAKE A MAJOR DENT IN THE
PROBLEM BY SIMPLY OPENING THE
OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF AND ANWR
TO DRILLING IN AN
ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.
THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF
ALONE IS ESTIMATED TO CONTAIN
ENOUGH OIL AND NATURAL GAS TO
MEET AMERICA'S ENERGY NEEDS FOR
THE NEXT 60 YEARS.
ENERGY EXPLORATION AND
PRODUCTION IN ANWR WOULD TAKE
A SMALL PORTION OF
THE 1.5 MILLION ACRES BUT WILL
ALLOW US TO SAFELY PRODUCE 900
BARRELS OF OIL PER DAY FOR THE
NEXT 30 DAYS.
I'VE BEEN THERE, I'VE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THAT THIS CAN BE DONE
IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE WAY.
THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE WOULD
TRANSPORT 700,000 BARRELS OF OIL
A DAY FROM CANADA TO U.S.
REFINERIES IN THE GULF COAST.
IT CAN BE CONSTRUCTED AND RUN IN
A SAFE MANNER.
TAPPING INTO THE OIL SANDS WOULD
HELP EASE OUR DEPENDENCE ON
HOSTILE REGIMES FOR OIL.
AS GLOBAL DEMAND FOR OIL SURGES
AND THE CANADIANS INCREASE
PRODUCTION, THE ADDITION OF THE
KEYSTONE PIPELINE WOULD ALLOW US
TO GET RELIABLE AND SECURE OIL
OUR LARGEST TRADING PARTNER
AND TRUSTED ALLY.
UNFORTUNATELY, PRESIDENT OBAMA
PUNTED ON EVERY OPPORTUNITY WE
HAVE GIVEN HIM TO MOVE KEYSTONE
FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT AND NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
WOULD THE
GENTLEMAN WITHHOLD?
YES.
I'M SORRY.
MR. PRESIDENT,
WOULD YOU TELL US WHAT THE ORDER