Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

Floor Speech

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT OF 2007 -- (Senate - December 07, 2007)

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Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, there is a difference between passing a bill and actually making laws. The bill before us is a prime example. The majority started with a bipartisan agreement that can be passed in both Houses and signed by the President; in other words, it could actually become law. It chose, instead, to add the twin milestones of utility rate hikes and massive tax increases. The end result is that the House passed a bill, but it will not become law. So there is a clear difference between making a partisan point and having an accomplishment. I hope at the end of this process, as it unfolds here before Christmas, we will actually make law.

Again, we can look at the current bill as an example. Rather than take the elements of the bill that had near universal support and have an accomplishment on behalf of their constituents, the majority chose instead to make a partisan point.

Now, I understand that the House is a different place, that the Speaker rules, as the Senate majority leader put it Wednesday, ``with an iron fist.'' While she can muscle bills through the House on a party-line vote, it does not work that way over here. We have shown that all year on numerous political votes the majority has put on the floor. We have shown that already this week on the AMT. When the majority tried the ``my way or the highway'' approach, the bill failed. When they worked with us on a bill that could pass, we succeeded by a vote of 88 to 5. That I would call success. The same is true of the farm bill. When the leadership of the majority tried to dictate to the minority what amendments we could offer, the Senate spun its wheels and got nowhere. But when the majority worked with us, the result was a mutually beneficial agreement that will soon lead to an accomplishment that both sides can be proud of.

But the bill we are voting on today is a massive tax hike and a utility rate increase for consumers across the Southeast. It is not a serious attempt to make law, and it is not a serious attempt at an accomplishment. It is a partisan bill that must be improved or set aside.

So let's not waste even more time rehashing the lessons of the past 11 months. If you are serious about an accomplishment, let's fix this bill. Walking away from a bipartisan deal in favor of raising taxes and raising utility rates, as the House majority has done, will not make a law.

But working with us to find common ground to increase the use of renewable fuels and raise fuel economy standards to historic levels without costing American jobs is something that would enjoy widespread support. I stand ready to work with all our colleagues on a realistic bipartisan bill, but I will vote no on this partisan tax increase and this rate increase for consumers and urge our colleagues to do the same.

I yield the floor.

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