[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                OPPOSE SALE OF POWER MARKETING AGENCIES

  (Mr. POMEROY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, today my friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Cooley], and I delivered a bipartisan letter 
to the Speaker of the House urging him to help us defeat the 
administration's proposal to increase electric rates by selling off the 
power marketing agencies or PMA's.
  If the goal of this Congress is to make Government run smarter, this 
plan would not stand a chance. The PMA's run at no cost to taxpayers, 
but make a big difference in the electric rates paid by over 100,000 in 
North Dakota and millions nationwide.
  There is one thing that has become clear since this idea was first 
suggested. This idea will not save the Federal Treasury a dime, but it 
will cost electric ratepayers millions.
  If sold, these agencies could well go to the highest bidder, driving 
up electric rates higher than those paid today.
  Mr. Speaker, 52 House Members who have signed this letter will not 
accept that. We are going on record today. We are opposed to the PMA 
sale and we are opposed to higher electric rates for our constituents.

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