Senate Proceeding on Sep 25th, 2008 :: 0:48:28 to 1:08:28
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0:18:25 to 0:48:28( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: James Inhofe
Bill: H.R. 7022: To reform the financing of House elections, and for other purposes

0:48:19 to 0:48:28( Edit History Discussion )

James Inhofe: calendar year. they reported receiving contributions totaling more than $94 million for -- during the 2006 irs -- i.r.s. filing period. they spent $18.9 million to promote stand on climate change issues

0:48:28 to 0:48:39( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: and 19.5 million collectively on land and ocean environment issues. in addition to the publicity professed alliances among the groups, they are all connected by the foundations that provide them with

0:48:28 to 0:49:52( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jeff Bingaman

0:48:39 to 0:48:48( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: a significant amount of funding. the heinz foundations are some of the largest contributors to the nonprofit environmental organizations and, of course, mrs. theresa heinz kerry is either chairperson of

0:48:48 to 0:49:00( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: the board of trustees or member member of the board of trustees on each foundation. in fact, mrs. heinz kerry oversees more than $1.a -- $1.5 billion. last year alone, heinz gave $160,000 to nrdc

0:49:00 to 0:49:12( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: directly. since 2002 she has given a total of $740,000 to e.d.f., l.c.v., and nrdc specifically. over the past five years, heinz has given $3.8 million to tides which donated significantly to all five

0:49:12 to 0:49:23( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: of the mentioned environmental organizations and receives a large portion of their funding from foundations such as heinz. another major supporter of the environmental groups is the turner foundation.

0:49:23 to 0:49:37( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: founded in 1990 by ted turner. the turner foundation sponsors specl projects including the partnership project comprised of 20 national environmental groups. since 2002 they have contributed more than

0:49:37 to 0:49:52( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: $2.9 million to the partnership project. additionally the turner foundation has given more than $1 million to nrdc, $778,000 to e.d.f., the environmental defense fund, and $6.7 million to l.c.v. education

0:49:52 to 0:50:04( Edit History Discussion )

Sherrod Brown: fund. the few charitable -- the pew charitable trust that claims to be an independent nonprofit serving to inform the public on key issues gives substantially to environmental groups. two pew environmental

0:50:04 to 0:50:15( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: priorities include global warming. since 2002, pew has given a substantial amount of money to environmental activist groups directly and through other private funds that finance these groups. pew contributed $431,000

0:50:04 to 0:59:12( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jeff Bingaman

0:50:15 to 0:50:28( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: to e.d.f., $900,000 to nrdc, $700,000 to partnership project, additionally, pew gave more than $7 million to the tides foundation during that time, the tides foundation contributed a collective $1.8 million

0:50:28 to 0:50:41( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: to e.d.f., l.c.v., green peace and the sierra club. this tangled web should be disconcerting and even scary to americans who are concerned about transparency and honesty in our government. clearly,

0:50:41 to 0:50:52( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: these environmental groups are concerned. there is no line between issue advocacy and political activity. and most disturbing is the fact that one can't tell if these so-called environmental groups

0:50:52 to 0:51:05( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: that claim to protect and conserve our environment really spend any money on actually improving the environment. why is this important? well, it's important because our environment is important to all

0:51:05 to 0:51:16( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: of us despite what you may hear from these groups. in their attack add veer tiesments against president bush and republican candidates, our air is cleaner, water is more drinkable and our forests are

0:51:16 to 0:51:26( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: becoming healthier. for instance, over the last 30 years, we've cut air pollution in half. you don't hear this from the media generally, but we've made great strides and great successes. this is also important

0:51:26 to 0:51:35( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: because these wolves disguised in sheep sheep's clothing are deceiving the american people. when an individual gives their hard-earned money to one of these organizations, most expect expectedly use

0:51:35 to 0:51:51( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: ed for the environment, the cause that they particularly support, not political campaigning. it seems it is more important to these groups to turn their oe- once-laudable movement into a political

0:51:51 to 0:52:02( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: machine misleading the american public regarding their purely politically partisan agenda under the guise of environmental protection. our knacks's first chief of the -- our nation's first chief of the united

0:52:02 to 0:52:14( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: states forest service service, pinchot, said "conservation means the wise use of the earth and its resources for the lasting good of men." he also said, "conservation is the application of common

0:52:14 to 0:52:30( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: sense to the common problems for the common good." those words ring true today. unfortunately, it is clear to me that environmentalist movement is deaf to them. what we find now is the fleece ing of

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Jeff Bingaman: american public's pocketbooks by environmental movements and their political gain. we also find exhausting litigation instigate ed -- instigation of false claims, misleading science, and scare tactics

0:52:45 to 0:52:59( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: to fool americans into believing disastrous environment environmental scenarios are un untrue. mr. president, especially in this election year, the american voter should see these groups and their many

0:52:59 to 0:53:09( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: affiliate ed organizations as they are: irntion the newest insidious conspiracy of political action committees and perhaps the new newest multimillion dollar manipulation of the federal election laws. as

0:53:09 to 0:53:20( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: an american citizen concerned about our environment and our country, i am dismayed and saddened by this deception. if these groups actually use ed the hundreds of millions of dlashes they raise for actual

0:53:20 to 0:53:32( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: environmental improvement, just think of how many whales and how many fores forests could be saved. these should be seen for what they are and what they really are: massive political machine disguised

0:53:32 to 0:53:47( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: for environmental causes. i think a lot of people on this floor understand, both democrats and republicans, and i think the american people there has been a wake-up call. when you look at what has

0:53:47 to 0:54:01( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: happened in the bill back in 200 2005 that came forward on trying to put caps on greenhouse gases and cap-and-trade, a very expensive system that would cost the american people over $300 billion a year,

0:54:01 to 0:54:09( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: at that time there were only three senators that came down to oppose that bill. and yet -- and yet it was overwhelmingly defeated the then fast-forward three years to 200 2008. we had a similar bill

0:54:09 to 0:54:21( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: on the floor of the senate, just a few weeks ago, and this time 24 senators came down to join me about the economic destruction that would happen should we pass that legislation. i think the reason

0:54:21 to 0:54:33( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: is winning. mr. president, i yield the floor floor. the presiding officer: the senator from new mexico is recognize ed. mr. bingaman: mr. president, first i would ask -- i have 10 unanimous consent

0:54:33 to 0:54:50( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: requests for committees to meet during today today's session of the senate. they've been approved both by the majority and by the minority leaders. ired a ask unanimous consent that these requests

0:54:50 to 0:55:11( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: be agreed to and that these requests be print printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. bingaman: mr. president, let me just state my understanding of how we're going

0:55:11 to 0:55:23( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: to proceed now. i believe in the spirit of going back and forth. i've been -- the senator from colorado has indicated that would agree i could go ahead and speak for up to 10 minutes, as if in

0:55:23 to 0:55:34( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: morning business. then he is going to be requesting 15 minutes to speak. at that time, if senator feingold is here, i know he had wanted to speak, too. senator bond has been waiting and wants to

0:55:34 to 0:55:58( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: speak. and i gather -- maybe i should just do an unanimous consent at this point that illowed to speak up to 10 minutes at this point and then senator allard be allowed to speak for up to 15 minutes

0:55:58 to 0:56:14( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: at that point. the presiding officer: is there objection? so ordered. the senator from -- mr. bond: i ask unanimous consent that i be permitted to speak for 10 minutes after senator allard. the presiding

0:56:14 to 0:56:35( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: officer: is there objection? so ordered. the senator from new mexico is recognized. mr. bingaman: mr. president, let me take a few minutes to discuss what we've been able to do with regard to energy policy

0:56:35 to 0:56:46( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: in this congress and discuss where i believe we're headed in the next congress. we began this congress having passed in mid-2005 the first comprehensive energy policy act in 13 years. mr. president,

0:56:46 to 0:56:56( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: could i be advised when eight of my 10 minutes has been use ed? the presiding officer: the senator will be notified. mr. bingaman: we passed the energy policy act of 2005. that bill was about five

0:56:56 to 0:57:08( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: years in the making, and it only became law because the chairman of the energy committee at that time, senator domenici, took it upon himself to work construct constructively a across the aisle

0:57:08 to 0:57:19( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: with democrats, myself and others, to put forth a bill that both sides could embrace. in the first session of this congress, we followed up with a new comprehensive energy bill, the energy independence

0:57:19 to 0:57:30( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: and security act of 2007. that -- this bill was also the result of a strong bipartisan effort. president bush helped by putting forth some important policy initiatives in his 2007 state of the

0:57:30 to 0:57:46( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: union speech, calling for more production of alternative transportation fuels and for higher fuel economy standards. the senate energy committee, we were able toeport a strong energy bill that formed the basis

0:57:46 to 0:58:01( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: for senate action with a large bipartisan majority. other committees played a major role in different partsen of that legislation as well. and after a long and difficult process with the house, we

0:58:01 to 0:58:17( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: were able to come up -- come to closure on a final piece of bipartisan legislation that the president signed in december of last year. the energy policy act of 2005 was a good piece of legislation. the

0:58:17 to 0:58:38( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: energy independence and security act of 2007 was an even better piece of legislation. throughout much of 2008, energy issues have been surrounded by, unfortunately, more partisan rancor. as energy

0:58:38 to 0:58:53( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: emerged as a key concern for voters and as an issue on the campaign trail. this is an important reason why, despite so much floor discussion of energy and energy-related top topics, we do not have as much

0:58:53 to 0:59:12( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Bingaman: to show as a result of our efforts efforts as i would like. when energy issues become polar polarized along party lines, it is clear that the senate loses its abilityd to act in an effective way. i

0:59:12 to 0:59:27( Edit History Discussion )

Lisa Murkowski: am pleased that in the past few weeks we have begun to find a bipartisan way forward on energy again. we put together an energy tax incentive package that won very broad support here in the senate senate, passed

0:59:27 to 0:59:41( Edit History Discussion )

Lisa Murkowski: with a margin of 93-2. the efforts of the leadership, senator reid here in the senate, senator mcconnell, senator baucus, senator grassley, and many others helped to put this legislative package together.

0:59:41 to 0:59:57( Edit History Discussion )

also we have made some significant bipartisan progress on energy policy in the continuing resolution, which i believe is cing up for consideration here in the senate very soon. the mortgage --

0:59:57 to 1:00:10( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: the moratorium on off offshore drilling is being brought up. we also funded the direct loan program for redueling the -- retooling the auto industry, permitting up to $25 billion in loans to be made

0:59:57 to 1:14:39( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Wayne Allard

1:00:10 to 1:00:23( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: to help move our transportation sector into a cleaner and more energy- energy-efficient future. this is important to our future national economic security. i hope that all of these a accomplishments make

1:00:23 to 1:00:35( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: it across the finish line and actually become law in the next few days. if they do, they will help set the stage for what i believe will be a reemergence of bipartisanship on energy after this election

1:00:35 to 1:00:46( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: is behind us and as we reconvene this next year as the 111th congress. i want to make clear this morning my intention to push early and hard in the new congress to renew our commitment to an effective

1:00:46 to 1:01:00( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: bipartisan and comprehensive approach to energy policy. despite the successes that we've had in this congress and in the last,here is a great deal of work that remains to be done in order to secure

1:01:00 to 1:01:15( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: our energy future, an energy future that is adequate and affordable and clean. let me talk about a few of the energy challenges that we face in the next congress and that i hope to work with my colleagues,

1:01:15 to 1:01:30( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: both on the democratic and republican side, on. we have a real need to work on the deployment of new energy technologies of all kinds, particularly with a growing concern about global warming. we need

1:01:30 to 1:01:43( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: to make sure that we're developing and putting putting in place a new generation of clean, low- low-carbon energy technologies. these technologies include re renewable energy and carbon capture,

1:01:43 to 1:01:57( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: transportation and storage and other low-carbon technologies relevant to the nuclear power industry. there's a global clean tech revolution that we can either lead in or we can miss out on. i believe we need

1:01:57 to 1:02:08( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: to make the in investments here in the united states to be leaders in this revolution. along with a new -- along with new clean energy technologies, we'll need a modernize ed energy infrastructure to

1:02:08 to 1:02:21( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: make sure that clean energy can be transported -- transmitted from wherever it is generated to wherever it is needed. without a major new focus on putting in place a 21st century energy infrastructure,

1:02:21 to 1:02:35( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: we will not be able to make the progress that we need to make to secure our energy security goals and our climate security goals. along with new sources of energy energy, we need to make much more

1:02:35 to 1:02:47( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: progress on use ing energy wisely and efficiently. a major focus of our effort need needs to be made in the transportation sector. many here in the senate have caulk talked abouted about -- talked

1:02:47 to 1:02:58( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: about the need for another manhattan project. while i recognize that the committee on science and transportation is largely responsible for regular standards on fuel economy, there is a great deal that

1:02:58 to 1:03:14( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: our committee can do, the energy and natural resources committee can do to make sure that we have the right technology push for advance ed vehicles, and i see that as a focus of our work in the next congress

1:03:14 to 1:03:31( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: as well. we need to do more to improve energy use age in manufacturing and buildings and commercial equipment and appliances. our investments in these areas have been totally inadequate over the last decade.

1:03:31 to 1:03:43( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: our inpvestments in new energy technologies and innovation, new energy science and engineering and on training the next generation of energy researchers and technicians vin adequate. finally, we

1:03:43 to 1:03:57( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: need to improve the functioning of our federal agencies and programs reement relate ed to energy across the board. we need to develop real strengths in in the federal government in terms of working

1:03:57 to 1:04:09( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: with entrepreneurs and industry and markets markets in commercialize ing new energy technologies. one other area we need to put a focus on obviously is the area of the recent scandals in the minerals

1:04:09 to 1:04:25( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: management service. this indicates that a thorough examination is needed as to how that agency currently functions, how its programs can be reformed so that the taxpayers get the value they deserve

1:04:25 to 1:04:37( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: from federal oil and gas resources. the presiding officer: the senator has used eight minutes. mr. bingaman: appreciate that notification. my colleague from arks the very valued senior -- my colleague from

1:04:37 to 1:04:48( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: alaska, the very valued senior member of our committee, is here and wanted to make a few comments about our plans for the upcoming congress. and i very much welcome her strong support for a bipartisan

1:04:48 to 1:05:03( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: effort, and i yield the balance of my 10 minutes to her. ms. murkowski: mr. president, i'm pleased to be here today to follow up on the comments from the chairman of the energy committee. as one of the

1:05:03 to 1:05:15( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: senior members on that committee, i've had an opportunity to work with him and ranking member domenici on so many of these issues that he has talked about, as we have tried to advance our energy

1:05:15 to 1:05:25( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: needs for this country. one of the things that we reckon that energy committee is historically there has been a very good, strong bipartisan relationship working together to advance these policy goals. i think

1:05:25 to 1:05:34( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: the point has been made that perhaps politics has intervene ed as we have tried to advance some of the policy ies of late, and i would like to think that as we began a new congress next year with the

1:05:34 to 1:05:43( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: nsht before -- with the initiative before us that this country needs and deserves a good, comprehensive energy policy that works for this nation, that gets us to a point that allows for a level of

1:05:43 to 1:05:48( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: energy security for us that we do so in a way that is cooperative. that is collaborative, that allows us to move the technologies that allows us to move -- advance the infrastructure that is necessary,

1:05:48 to 1:06:01( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: that allows us to have policy ies in place that not only provide for increased domestic production but re renewables and alternatives, focus on efficiency and conservation, truly an energy policy that

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Wayne Allard: works for this country. i look forward to working with the chairman of the energy economy vangs these goals for this country. thank you, mr. president. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer:

1:06:10 to 1:06:21( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: the senator from wisconsin. a senator: mr. president, i ask consent that after senator allard speak, that i be recognized for 30 minutes. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. allard: mr. president,

1:06:21 to 1:06:33( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: i object because senator bond had alreadysked for time -- mr. allard: i just said after senator allard and after senator bond. mr. allard: no objection. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered.

1:06:33 to 1:06:44( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: mr. allard: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from colorado is recognized for 15 minutes. mr. allard: thank you, mr. president. first of all, i'd like to thank the senator from new

1:06:44 to 1:06:55( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: mexico, senator bingaman, for his leadership on energy and also like to thank the senator from alaska, senator murkowski, for her leadership on energy, as well as republican senator pete domenici

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Wayne Allard: for his very strong leadership on energy over the last number of years. this is an issue that's extremely important to our country and so i'm rising to talk about this nation's energy policy for

1:07:10 to 1:07:23( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: the next 15 minutes and the role, some of the thoughts that i have -- have been talking about since coming to the united states senate. it's important that we get the solution right, and i fully support

1:07:23 to 1:07:34( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: what the senator from new mexico talked about and his three goals that he outlined for the next congress. i'm not going to be here. i'm going to be retiring voluntarily from the united states senate

1:07:34 to 1:07:46( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: so i won't be here. but i do support those goals. and i hope that he continues to follow through with those goals and that's an adequate supply of energy that's affordable and that we have a clean source

1:07:46 to 1:07:56( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: of energy to begin to address some of our environmental problems. when i first came to the united states senate, i came from the house of representatives and i was a member of the renewable energy caucus,

1:07:56 to 1:08:07( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: came over to the united states senate and discovered that we did not have a renewable energy caucus to support the staff and the members in this body. so i began the process of establishing a renewable

1:08:07 to 1:08:18( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: energy caucus because i had come to realize that not only was a balanced energy policy not only good for the state of colorado but also good for the nation. in the state of colorado, we had the renewable

1:08:18 to 1:08:35( Edit History Discussion )

Wayne Allard: energy laboratory, which was focusing a lot of new technology, whose main effort was to move that technology, just not to discover and develop it, to move it to the market. and that's an important step