[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19199]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                THE DEFINITION OF BIPARTISAN HAS CHANGED

  (Mr. SMITH of Nebraska asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, we've been hearing a lot about 
change these days; certain parties claiming more change than others 
perhaps.
  I would suggest that what has changed the most is the definition of 
the term ``bipartisan.'' To say that this effort is bipartisan is not 
being honest. To say that the process that we're supposed to engage in 
2 years ago of being the most open process in the history of Congress, 
not so. To criticize the executive branch for energy policies 7 years 
ago being drafted behind closed doors, and then to participate or not 
allow participation in this issue, I think, is unconscionable for the 
American people.
  We're talking about way offshore drilling, if at all. We need broad-
based energy supply.
  If we think that a 9 percent approval rating of Congress is bad, 
let's pass a bill that won't do anything saying that it will. That is 
bad policy. If we expect our economy to grow, we need to afford the 
resources of energy to the growing economy.

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