[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 73 (Thursday, May 24, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H2684-H2685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         RISE IN ENERGY PRICES

  (Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1

[[Page H2685]]

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I have been enjoying some of the rhetoric I 
have been hearing from some of my friends on the other side of the 
aisle today. Clearly, when it comes to a rise in energy prices, the 
policies of my friends on the left side of the aisle is very simple, 
and that is called pass the buck.
  They talk about the California energy crisis. Who has been in charge 
in California? A Democratic governor, a Democratic State legislature. 
Who prevented the power plants from being built over the last decade? A 
Democratic governor, a Democratic State legislature.
  Of course, we at the national level in Chicago are seeing over $2 
gasoline. Why? Because a Democratic administration in the White House 
failed for 8 years to do anything about energy.
  We have a new President that has been in office now for 4\1/2\ 
months, 5 months. He inherited clearly serious energy problems. He has 
now come forward with an energy proposal which deserves bipartisan 
support.
  The bottom line is we need to conserve. We need to find new domestic 
sources, and we must reduce our independence on imported oil.

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