[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12712-12713]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                TIME FOR GOVERNOR DAVIS TO TAKE A STAND

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the real cause of 
the rolling blackouts and out-of-control energy prices in California. 
Governor Davis and his big government cronies caused California's 
energy crisis through their backward and politically motivated approach 
to energy. Bowing to pressure from radical environmentalists and advice 
from his pollsters, Governor Davis increased regulation of the energy 
industry, thus prohibiting increased energy production and limiting 
modernization of infrastructure. The Davis approach is the wrong 
approach.
  Now, in order to save his political future, Governor Davis has put 
political

[[Page 12713]]

advisors on the government payroll. Not only do Californians have to 
pay outrageous prices to cool their homes, but they now have to pay for 
consultants to tell Governor Davis how to minimize the political damage 
caused by his mishandling of California's energy needs. Even 
California's Democrat State comptroller has said that she will not pay 
for Davis's political expenses with the taxpayers' dime.
  Throughout this crisis, Gray Davis has been seeking political 
remedies instead of looking for positive solutions to solve the real-
life problems of his citizens. All the while, California families are 
suffering. It is time for the Governor to take a stand and do what is 
right for California, instead of what is right for his career.

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