Congressional Record, Senate, January 11, 2022, Page S143
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A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated January 11, 2022, at page S143, carrying part of a long speech by a Senator, which ends with To be continued. The Senator criticizes the Biden Court Commission, saying its report ignored the role of dark money amici curiae and of donors, and quotes a Fox News host's remarks about the bench. The Senator says dark money shaped the Court, that donors did not spend $400 million on the scheme for nothing, and that the record shows partisan wins for donors in 5-to-4 decisions. The remarks are the Senator's own and are partisan.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, January 11, 2022, Page S143.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-01-11-crec-2022-01-11-pt1-pgs143-3a93aa7a55/
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January 11, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S143
Several of us wrote to the Commission Commission by the President feel that of this court’’; ‘‘blow it up’’; ‘‘change
to point out the scheme’s telltale foot- this Court is on a one-way trip from things finally’’ if we don’t get the out-
prints. The Commission even received America being a defective but still come we deserve after all of our money
testimony about another pernicious hopeful democracy toward a system in spent through the Federalist Society.
issue: the Court’s reliance on fake facts which the few corruptly govern the So I am waiting to see what reaction
supplied by dark money amici curiae, many. from this Justice there is when this
especially in politically important They concluded by saying this: real threat comes, but from the right-
cases for the rightwing donors like Instead of serving as a guardrail against wing FOX News channel. The FOX
Shelby County and Citizens United. going over that cliff, our Supreme Court has News outburst was particularly rash
Somehow, none of this made it into the become an all-too-willing accomplice— and indiscreet, but the Republican Jus-
Commission’s discussion. Accomplice— tices get marching orders like this all
Ducking all these facts was no small in that disaster. the time at the fat-cat dinners, on jun-
feat. As the Presiding Officer knows, All of that was kept out of the re- kets with the rightwing donor class,
one of the first exercises that law pro- port. and from the orchestrated flotillas of
fessors give their first-year law stu- The fact is evident that dark money dark money amici curiae that encircle
dents is called issue spotting. You get political forces had a controlling and the Court for big cases launched by the
a case, and you are asked to go through anonymous role in the makeup of the big donors.
it and list all the potential issues it The Justices are constantly reminded
present Court. You can’t dispute that.
raises, spot the issues. Well, these of who propelled them to the Court and
It is not surprising that the donor in-
issues all sat in plain view before the what they are supposed to deliver. And
terests who accomplished that should the truth is, the record reveals, the
Commission. Yet the Commission want their due. As I said, you don’t
flunked the rudimentary law school statistics make plain the Republican
spend $400 million on this scheme for Justices do deliver over and over and
test of issue spotting. nothing.
Now, part of the problem was conflict over again—more than 80 partisan wins
Just a few days before the Commis- for scheme donors in those 5-to-4—and
of interest. Many members of this sion unveiled the final draft of its re-
Commission argue before the Court and now we can expect 6-to-3—partisan de-
port and right after oral arguments in cisions.
need its good will for their bread and the big abortion cases that are pending So the Biden Court Commission
butter. Others are law professors eager before the Court, there was a telling in- missed its moment. It ducked all of
to plant their students in prestigious cident. FOX News host Laura Ingraham this. So on we must go through the
Supreme Court clerkships. For many lost her cool, and she said on plain tel- stench of partisan capture of the Court,
members, rocking the boat could have evision the quiet part out loud. Here is and on I will go exposing the scheme
unhappy consequences. what she said: that did it.
Clearly, though, some Commission We have six Republican appointees on this To be continued.
members tried and failed to get these court, after all the money that has been I yield the floor.
issues considered. Two members—re- raised, the Federalist Society, all these big I suggest the absence of a quorum.
tired Federal Judge Nancy Gertner fat cat dinners—I’m sorry, I’m pissed about The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
from the Presiding Officer’s home this— PETERS). The clerk will call the roll.
State and Harvard Law School’s Lau- Excuse me for that language, but it The legislative clerk proceeded to
rence Tribe—had an op-ed ready for is a direct quote— call the roll.
print the day the report was released. if this court with six justices cannot do the Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I
They called for a serious overhaul of right thing here . . . then I think it’s time to ask unanimous consent that the order
the Court due to what they called ‘‘the do what Robert Bork said we should do, for the quorum call be rescinded.
dubious legitimacy of the way some which is to circumscribe the jurisdiction of The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
Justices were appointed,’’ due to that this court and if they want to blow it up, objection, it is so ordered.
then that’s the way to change things finally.
stench of bipartisanship Justice FILIBUSTER
Sotomayor has observed, and due to Let’s deconstruct that little outburst Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President,
what they called the ‘‘anti-egalitarian for a second. there has been a lot of discussion on
direction’’ of the Court’s political deci- First, it basically admits to the the floor, certainly today and the days
sions on voting rights and dark scheme: ‘‘all the money that has been leading up to this, as we talk about the
money.’’ raised’’—that is the $400 million I importance of protecting minority
Judge Gertner and Professor Tribe talked about; ‘‘the Federalist Soci- rights here in the Senate and the con-
wrote: ety’’—that is the big donor-controlled sequences of weakening the legislative
Though fellow commissioners and others turnstile for rightwing advancement to filibuster to a 50-vote, majority-serving
have voiced concern about the impact that a the Supreme Court; and ‘‘all these big threshold. There is a lot to say, and
report implicitly criticizing the Supreme fat cat dinners’’—wow. I would love to there has been a lot said already.
Court might have on judicial independence know more about that. We do know I was here listening to the comments
and thus judicial legitimacy, we do not share that Justices have taken undisclosed from my friend from Utah and have
that concern. Far worse are the dangers that vacations in the company of people had an opportunity to hear much of
flow from ignoring the court’s real prob- with interests before the Court, so what has been said throughout the
lems—of pretending conditions have not
changed; of insisting improper efforts to ma-
what is a little ‘‘big fat cat dinner’’ course of the day. But I am here per-
nipulate the court’s membership have not among friends, huh? haps as the sole Senate Republican who
taken place; of looking the other way when Second, that little outburst is a flat- will vote to begin debate on the John
the court seeks to undo decades of precedent out threat to the Court: Decide the big Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
relied on by half the population to shape abortion cases the way we want, the six because I happen to believe that it is
their lives just because, given the new ma- of you, or we ‘‘circumscribe the juris- important that we focus on improving
jority, it has the votes. diction of this court’’; ‘‘blow it up’’; our election laws, but I also believe
Judge Gertner and Professor Tribe ‘‘change things finally.’’ very, very strongly that the way to do
rightly warned that we can’t afford There is a particularly thin-skinned that is through the regular order proc-
more decisions like Shelby County and Federalist Society Justice who has ess. It might sound kind of boring, but
Citizens United, which would put the been giving speeches condemning an that is actually how you get the good
Court on what they called a ‘‘one-way imaginary threat I supposedly made to work, the enduring legislation done.
trip from a defective but still hopeful ‘‘bully’’ the Court in a brief maybe I am also here, I guess, as a senior
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
democracy toward a system in which read by a couple of hundred people. It Member of the Chamber now. I have
the few corruptly govern the many, didn’t actually happen that way, but been around for almost 20 years. I have
something between autocracy and oli- never mind. Like I said, he is particu- spent time in both the majority and
garchy.’’ larly thin-skinned. the minority. But I am also here be-
Think about that. People distin- But now here comes this plain cause I care—I really care—about legis-
guished enough to be appointed to this threat: ‘‘circumscribe the jurisdiction lating. I understand what it takes to
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S144 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 11, 2022
work across the aisle to bring good pol- ority through. Perhaps we need to was good for me when I was in the mi-
icy into law. focus on how we are bringing people to- nority is no longer good for me when I
One of the things that I can tell you gether to advance that priority. am in the majority or vice versa. It has
from firsthand experience is, it is hard. This body, the Senate, was never to work both ways.
It is hard work. It is hard work to meant to be the House of Representa- So when as Republicans in the major-
bring people together, particularly on tives. Senator Robert Byrd, who served ity we were urged mightily by former
some of these challenging and difficult both as the majority and the minority President Trump to get rid of the fili-
issues that we have. leader—so I think he had pretty good buster, I was one of those who said: No.
When the problems are hard, that perspective on things—he also re- No. We should not do that. And that is
means usually the solutions are equal- minded us about the saucer and the why my advice today to the majority is
ly hard. But that is our job as legisla- role that the House plays—excuse me, be careful, be careful what you wish for
tors—to bring sides together, to find that the Senate plays. because you may look at this and say
that common ground. The Senate is the proverbial saucer this may help advance the immediate
That is what legislating is all about. intended to cool the cup of coffee from legislative agenda—what they are talk-
And so with all of that in mind, I tell the House. Nobody likes it, particu- ing about now is voting rights. You
you I believe that weakening the cur- larly the guys in the House. They don’t may be able to advance the immediate
rent 60-vote threshold would be a major like it when they say: Oh, you are so legislative agenda there, but the long-
mistake, a damaging mistake, espe- slow over here. But we were meant to term effects might look pretty dif-
cially in light of the already deep divi- be deliberative. ferent.
sion that we have within our country The more we become like the House, And I think we have seen a little bit
today and within the divisions that we the less relevant, in my view, we are as of a suggestion of what that could look
have represented in this body today. an institution and the further we will like when you don’t have the protec-
So the nuclear option is reportedly have strayed from that balance, that tions in order for the minority. So I
coming our way to change the thresh- careful balance that the Constitution think it is good for us to be having this
old for cloture on legislation—on legis- envisions for our branch of govern- open discussion. I think it is important
lation to 50 votes and to do this with ment. that we be thinking about the practical
just 50 votes. But I would suggest to So we have been here before. As I was effects of weakening the filibuster.
you that this will do nothing to cure walking over, I was thinking this is What will happen if it no longer pro-
what actually ails the Senate, and, like deja vu all over again. How many tects the minority and instead only
therefore, we should reject it. times have we had these battles over serves to benefit the majority? A 50-
I mentioned that the job that we the filibuster? Should we exercise the vote threshold would allow the major-
have as legislators is to come together nuclear option? Should we pull this ity to push through, to rush through
to knit the good ideas from one side to trigger? legislation without consideration of
the other, to really build that con- Well, back in 2017, I signed a letter, the minority views. And keep in mind
sensus that will allow for enduring pol- along with 60 other Members of this that we may be in the minority now, a
icy and enduring laws. Gutting the fili- Chamber. There were 28 Republicans, 32 50–50 minority—pretty skinny minor-
buster is not going to do anything to Democrats, 1 Independent. We came to- ity—but a minority that is elected
bring both sides together. It will not gether as a pretty representative group with support from major portions of
help bring the parties together. It will, of lawmakers, and we urged both Re- the country.
unfortunately, just serve to push them publican and Democratic leaders to Removing the filibuster would reduce
further apart, split us further apart. It preserve the 60-vote threshold for legis- the need for the parties to work to-
would not lead to better or consensus lation—for legislation—because we gether to reach the broad consensus on
legislation. knew where we had come from. The Re- policy, again, that can endure across
It effectively allows the majority to publicans had used the nuclear option elections. And I think that is impor-
do what it wants to do, when it wants to eliminate the filibuster for Supreme tant for us to just stop and take ac-
to do it, how it wants to do it without Court nominees after the Democrats count of because when you don’t have
the minority. It effectively allows you used it in 2013 for eliminating the fili- legislation that is enduring, when you
to ignore the views from the minority. buster for confirmation of the lower move legislation that is wholly par-
This rule change would not restore us court and executive branch. tisan, what happens when the tables
as the world’s greatest deliberative So it is kind of one of these where are turned? The new majority spends
body. they did it, so it is OK for us to do it. all of its time trying to undo what the
I know that there are those who Far be it for me to suggest that some- old majority got passed on a wholly
would suggest that we are far, far from times the analogies are like what we partisan basis.
that, but I would suggest that if we do have when we have got the kids in the Now we are not giving certainty to
this, it really obliterates that reputa- back of the car and somebody says: the Nation. We are not helping the
tion forever. Well, he started it. And the other one economy move along. It is a whipsaw.
There has been a lot of talk about says: No, well, then I get to do it. And It is policy whiplash. Who is going to
the differences between the House and my response is: Knock it off both of be investing in policies if they just
the Senate. We are different. We were you. think that what was just passed into
designed different. The Framers de- Maybe we just need to have a detente law is going to be undone in the next
signed the Senate as an institution here on whether or not we blow up the Congress?
where the rights of individual Senators filibuster. Maybe we need to just step We owe it to our constituents, we
as well as minority groups of Senators back from this and realize what it owe it to the country to give them
are protected. They are highly pro- means to all of us because those of us some certainty with policy, and that
tected. That is what our rules reflect. who are in the minority today will one comes about when you are working to
And that is why—why we can hold day be in the majority, and those who build consensus.
forth, why an individual—one person— are in the majority today will one day Eliminating the filibuster would
can register objections, why we can be in the minority. make primary elections into fealty
place holds and offer motions and fili- And so making sure that there is a tests, even more, even more than they
buster legislation when we deem it nec- balance, that it works, that minority already are, as each party sets its
essary. And I know we don’t like it rights are respected—this is why we sights on candidates who are probably
when it is being used against us—we are here today. I know that there are unlikely to act independently once in
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
don’t—because it slows things down. It several Senators who signed that letter office. I mean, why bother? But, again,
is frustrating. But it is part of what back in 2017 who are now seeing their it would whipsaw—whipsaw—the coun-
has been built into our institution. words repeated against them. That has try on policy. And as I think about the
And some may say, well, it is obvi- got to feel pretty uncomfortable. I state of our economy right now, where
ously not working, it is obviously not don’t want to be one of those who feels we need to be investing in—we have got
functioning because I can’t get my pri- like I have to eat my words; that what a great infrastructure bill that we are
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January 11, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S145
all poised to try to advance, lots of So let’s take this back. Let’s take it up. We kept working at it. And, in fair-
good things coming for that—we don’t to the committee process. Let’s look ness, I think we actually worked to im-
want to be undermining investment in for areas of agreement, like some sug- prove the legislation.
our ability to address major challenges gestion has been out in the past couple As difficult as it might have been, it
if we are looking at a situation where, weeks here, reforming the Electoral was through that process that we were
again, the new majority coming in, Count Act. I don’t know how far that able to come to some terms on HFCs,
they just work to reverse the work of can take us, but when something like probably as significant an effort that
their predecessors. this is put on the table, let’s take a we have made when it comes to reduc-
These aren’t good outcomes for a di- look at this. ing emissions, and that came about as
vided nation, and they only take us Let’s work through some of these a result of that very deliberative proc-
further from what should be our goal. proposals rather than just summarily ess that you wanted to pull your hair
We have got to be focused. We have got dismissing it out of hand. Let’s take out over, but it actually worked to ad-
to be focused on finding more ways to that time, put in the effort, build a vance that legislation.
work together. And we have got good product that can pass and hopefully by But I think what happens is this
examples. We had an energy bill that more than just the smallest of mar- forces us, as Members, to work to-
we advanced in 2020, a good bill. We had gins. We did that before with Voting gether and to remember we can over-
been working on that for a long time, Rights Act historically. We have dem- come these. And in these partisan
but it was a very bipartisan product. onstrated that it can be done. times, they prevent the majority from
I mentioned our bipartisan infra- As far as rule changes, I agree we simply running over the minority,
structure bill. We have the CARES Act should be having the debate. But how which only serves to worsen our polit-
as another example. So many measures we do the debate, I think, is also im- ical divide.
have shown us that this is absolutely portant. We want to have a thoughtful The 60-vote threshold for legislation
possible. discussion. Both sides need to be in- requires consensus to be part of the
As part of that, when we consider volved. Any Member who wants to par- legislative strategy. Changing it to 50
changing the rules, we need to focus on ticipate should be doing so. votes to serve the narrowest possible
incentivizing bipartisanship, pushing But these discussions need to focus majority will lose that essential ben-
Members to reach across the aisle, not on the problem, and the problem is efit; it will have lasting consequences
making it less of a priority. Let’s think that there is not enough consensus for the Senate and for the people that
about how we do that in a positive building across parties. That is what we serve.
sense, how we are pushing one another So I absolutely think that we can do
we need to be focusing on, rather than
to work to build things rather than di- better than this, better approaches for
focusing on eliminating the need for it
viding one another and just throwing both voting rights legislation and rules
altogether.
things at one another. changes. They are available to us. We
So instead of targeting the filibuster,
I will vote against any motion to just have to work. Neither side is going
one of the things that I have suggested
weaken the filibuster or create carve- to get everything that it wants out of
to several folks is the development of a
outs within it. Legislation and legis- them, but I absolutely believe that we
consensus calendar. Now, I am not say-
lating in and of itself, as I mentioned will be better served, our country will
ing it is going to solve everything, but
at the outset, it is not supposed to be be better served if we have a bipartisan
if you have strong, bipartisan bills that
easy. We don’t have that red ‘‘easy’’ path working together.
button on our desk here. It is delib- have made it through the process, they With that, I yield the floor.
erately hard. have demonstrated that good, strong The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
But as I learned from somebody a show of support, there ought to be a ator from Wyoming.
couple weeks ago, I don’t want to come way that we can move things through Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I
to talk about the problems without of- on an expedited process, an expedited come to the floor to congratulate and
fering up some solutions at the same consideration. commend the remarks by the senior
time. I do have some suggestions for There has also been a lot of talk Senator from Alaska. She certainly
how we could perhaps move forward on about eliminating the filibuster on the knows from whence she speaks.
voting rights legislation, potential motion to proceed. I remember so well the discussion
changes to our rules. So for voting So these are areas where, again, I that she just mentioned with regard to
rights, the Senate doesn’t need to think you have had thoughtful people the energy bill and HRCs and the effort
change its rules here; the majority willing to sit down and say: Can we re- for a cleaner environment, and it was
needs to change its approach. form our processes around here? Can through the process that we were able
You have me—basically me alone at we be more efficient? Can we still be to come up with legislation that we be-
this point—willing to debate one of the that cooling saucer, that deliberative lieve—all believe—was a better result
measures that was written. It was writ- body, but be more efficient? for the Nation and for the environ-
ten on a partisan basis, but I did my I would argue that no rules changes ment.
homework. I looked at it. I weighed in. should take effect this year. Whatever It took longer than any of us wish it
I worked with colleagues on the other we can agree to, let’s set the effective would have taken, but it was through
side of the aisle and made some good, date of January of 2023. Make these de- that process. And had we been in a sit-
solid suggestions. I think we have had cisions based on what any majority in uation without the ability to filibuster,
some good dialogue there. I think it is any year should have to govern. we would have never gotten to such a
important. I want to reach a com- We need to make sure that if we are good result because a 50–50 Senate is—
promise on it. I think that that would changing the rules, we do it for the basically it is a mandate to move to
be important, but I have acknowledged right reason. We do it because it is the the middle.
that there needs to be some changes right thing to do for the Senate, no So I commend the senior Senator
that would need to be made to that, matter who is in charge. And I think from Alaska. She knows from whence
and I have worked to suggest it. that is just a matter of fairness there. she speaks. She is very high up in se-
But what that does for right here We all know that filibusters can be so niority in the institution. She has in-
right now is it makes it abundantly very, very frustrating, and those in the stitutional memory, more than many,
clear that we don’t have agreement majority feel it directly. I know of many Members of this body, and when
right now on voting rights legislation, which I speak. I have been there. It can she says what goes around comes
so it is no wonder that the legislation be agonizing. It is like you are up around and the shoe is, at another
is being blocked. against a brick wall. time, on the opposite foot, she knows
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Partisan bills don’t suddenly become As I mentioned, when we were ad- what the implications of those are and
bipartisan just because they have hit vancing my energy bill several years why what the Democrats are proposing
the floor. So instead of looking for back, I can’t tell you how many times now is in the wrong direction for the
ways around consensus, we have got to I felt like I had the rug pulled out from country.
go back; we have got to actually start underneath us. But it was a good legis- So I believe it is misguided, and I
building it. lative product, and so we didn’t give concur with her comments.
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S146 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 11, 2022
NORD STREAM 2 energy emergency as well. It is because Joe Biden is against American pipe-
Mr. President, I come to the floor Europe already gets almost half of its lines, but in May, he gave a green light
today on another matter, and that is to gas imports from Russia. With the to Vladimir Putin’s pipeline between
support sanctions on Vladimir Putin Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Russia and Germany. This is a betrayal
and his Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Germany, the imports will only need to of American energy workers. It is a be-
This body will be voting on that very go up, and they will go up. trayal of America’s allies in Europe.
issue in the next day or so, and I am Under Secretary Victoria Nuland If the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is com-
urging my colleagues to support S. told the Senate Foreign Relations pleted, it will double the amount of
3436, which is known as Protecting Eu- Committee, ‘‘We have been counseling Russian natural gas flowing into Ger-
rope’s Energy Security Implementa- Europe for almost a decade now to re- many. Putin will be able to manipulate
tion Act. duce its dependence on Russian en- the price and the availability of energy
Let me just explain why this is so ergy.’’ to European nations in the middle of
important. And it is important because A decade. A decade includes the ad- winter. He will be able to hold half of
right now, Vladimir Putin has mobi- ministrations of both President Trump Europe hostage.
lized close to 100,000 troops near the and President Obama. Yet Joe Biden Stopping this pipeline should be an
border with Ukraine. They are nearly has done everything he can to cripple area of bipartisan agreement in this
encircling the country of Ukraine. Our American energy production. body. In fact, it was an area of bipar-
intelligence community has warned of What happens with that? Well, it tisan agreement until Joe Biden be-
a potential Russian invasion of makes our allies more dependent on came President. Even Joe Biden said
Ukraine in the next month or so. Russia for energy. It gives more power that he was against the pipeline—well,
So why is this happening? Well, to Putin. until he was for it.
Vladimir Putin has always wanted to Under Joe Biden, American energy Many Democrats voted for the sanc-
control and dominate Ukraine. This is production hasn’t really recovered yet tions against the pipeline on more than
nothing new. He invaded in 2014. He il- to the 2019 levels. This is a direct result one occasion, but when Joe Biden flip-
legally annexed Crimea and continues of the anti-American energy policies of flopped, so did they.
to occupy Crimea today. Now, he wants this White House. Senate Democrats now are running
more, and he is now also flush with On his first day in office, Joe Biden interference for Joe Biden. But Demo-
cash. With Joe Biden in the White killed the Keystone XL pipeline. He crats just spent 4 years talking about
House and the Democrat energy poli- then blocked new oil and gas leases on Russia, Russia, Russia—obsessed with
Federal lands. We are now producing Russia. They spent 4 years going on
cies, Vladimir Putin has hit the energy
1.4 million fewer barrels of oil each day TV, spreading conspiracy theories, all
financial jackpot.
You don’t have to take my word for than we were before the pandemic. of which were false.
Yet now, the Democrat caucus is at-
it; take it from the Biden administra- We are, in the U.S., now, using more
tempting to protect the Kremlin’s
tion. Joe Biden’s Under Secretary of oil imported from Russia than we are
greatest geopolitical weapon.
State for Political Affairs is one of his using oil from our own home State of For the Democratic Party, this is a
top Russia experts for our own State Alaska. It is a national disgrace to be return to tradition. Democrats were
Department. She has spent her entire dependent more upon Russia for oil soft on Russia during the Cold War,
career working on issues related to than we are from our neighboring soft on Russia under the Obama admin-
Russia, Ukraine, and Europe. State of Alaska. istration. Hillary Clinton gave the Rus-
Well, in December, she testified be- Joe Biden’s National Security Advi- sians a great big reset button. Presi-
fore the Foreign Relations Committee. sor even pleaded with Russia to dent Obama was caught in a hot-micro-
She testified about increasing Russian produce more oil—hard to believe, hard phone moment telling the Russian
aggression on the Ukraine border. She to believe that the National Security President at the time that he would
said, ‘‘Energy is the cash cow that en- Advisor for Joe Biden in the White have more flexibility: Tell Vladimir I
ables these kinds of military deploy- House would plead with Russia to will have more flexibility after I am re-
ments.’’ produce more oil. elected.
She said Vladimir Putin ‘‘needs the Well, the administration actually put Democrats talk tough—they did
energy to flow as much as the con- the Russian energy request on the under the last administration, that is.
sumers need’’ it to flow. White House website. Joe Biden would But now we are back to the old Demo-
But why is that? Well, it is because rather have America buy energy from cratic playbook. This is the kind of
of Russian energy that Putin is able to our enemies than sell energy to our Washington, DC, partisanship the
pursue these dangerous military ambi- friends. American people hate—the same thing
tions. Joe Biden would rather have Euro- Democrats did with Iran when Barack
The late Senator John McCain, with pean nations dependent on Russian en- Obama was in the White House.
whom I have traveled on several occa- ergy than increase American energy An American President must always
sions to Ukraine, used to say, ‘‘Russia production and exports from home here negotiate from a position of strength.
is a Mafia-run gas company disguised to our allies. It is completely back- Democrats tend to think if you give
as a country.’’ wards. Putin or the Ayatollah something they
Energy is the only successful sector Under Joe Biden, American energy demand, that they will then play nice.
of the Russian economy. Natural gas is production is down and energy prices, That is not how the real world works.
what is propping up the Russian mili- as any consumer knows, is way up. Vladimir Putin is cunning, he is oppor-
tary and the entire Putin regime. American families are caught paying tunistic, and he is aggressive. He sees
Vladimir Putin uses energy as a geo- the price for these policies of the an opportunity, and he takes it. He can
political weapon, and he knows how to Democrats and the Biden administra- smell weakness. He respects strength,
use it. tion. not statements.
He uses energy to coerce and to ma- In November, we saw the biggest en- The Nord Stream 2 Pipeline from
nipulate our allies and our partners in ergy price increase in 10 years. CNBC Russia to Germany will be an enor-
Europe. If they don’t do something reports that one in five American fami- mous transfer of wealth from our allies
that Putin wants or they do something lies can’t afford to pay an energy bill to our enemy. It will make our allies
that he doesn’t like, he can turn off the this year. Roughly the same percent- weaker, and, of course, it will make
power and turn off the heat. We just age have kept their home at an Vladimir Putin stronger. When Putin
saw an example of this in November, unhealthy low temperature because gets stronger, he gets even more ag-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
when Russia threatened to cut off gas they can’t afford the cost to heat their gressive.
flows to the small and neighboring home. People who traveled for Christ- History should not be kind to those
country of Moldova. Moldova had to mas just faced some of the highest who gifted Putin a pipeline, pointed
declare a state of emergency. Christmas Day gasoline prices in his- like a gun into the heart of Europe.
Well, under Joe Biden’s energy poli- tory. American families are getting This vote to support sanctions on the
cies, Europe will soon be in a state of squeezed, and Putin is getting rich. Nord Stream 2 Pipeline is our chance
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