[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26261]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           GOP ENERGY CHARADE

  (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, it is time the Republicans stop their Big 
Oil dog and pony show.
  Last week, the oil CEOs testified that the companies had not met with 
the Vice President in his office in developing the energy policy. Well, 
in today's Washington Post, those documents show that they in fact in 
2000 did meet with the Vice President and administration officials.
  Of course they were involved in the development of the energy 
legislation. How else do you get $16.5 billion in taxpayer-funded 
subsidies at a time when oil is trading at $60 a barrel? None of the 
back-room deals come as a surprise or a shock to any of us. The old 
adage: just follow the money.
  What is shocking is my Republican colleagues think they can hold a PR 
stunt and the American people will forget the private meetings and the 
$16.5 billion in gifts that the Republican Congress has provided Big 
Oil. Republicans should know it is wrong to hand out billions of 
dollars to oil companies at a time when they are making record profits 
and then cut home heating assistance to the elderly. But they do not 
forget.
  The paper trail is too thick for the Republicans to hide their cozy 
relationship with Big Oil. The record is finally cleared up. Big Oil, 
Vice President Cheney, the Republican Congress, what a team. It gives a 
whole new meaning to family.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for a change and time for new priorities.

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