[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 16, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H8148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPECT BIPARTISANSHIP

  (Mr. DENT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, the American people believe that Washington, 
DC, is broken. And this process and this legislation that we are 
considering today is proof positive of why Washington and this Congress 
is broken.
  The American people expect some bipartisanship on this energy issue. 
My colleague, John Peterson of Pennsylvania, just discussed a 
bipartisan proposal. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, a Democrat, and John 
Peterson of Pennsylvania have put together a good bipartisan compromise 
that we should be considering as part of this discussion today. It will 
advance American energy and American energy jobs.
  The bill we're dealing with today says no nuclear, no clean coal--and 
I'm from Pennsylvania; we care about that. And there's really no oil 
and gas. That really limits our options as a nation. We want to create 
American energy jobs, and we want to use the revenues to transition to 
alternative and renewable energy as well as conserve and realize 
efficiencies.
  The American people expect better. They expect bipartisanship. And 
what we are considering here today, unfortunately, does not meet that 
test.

                          ____________________