2010 IL Senate Debates: on Energy & Oil

Alexi Giannoulias: Clean energy future for national security & job creation

GIANNOULIAS: There was an omnibus spending bill which had thousands of earmarks, a ton of pork; I would have voted against it. I think President Obama should have vetoed it.

Q: I'm talking about going forward, though.

GIANNOULIAS: Going forward, I think we need to do everything we can to create a sense of urgency when it comes to a clean energy future. I think it's a priority not just from a moral perspective, but from a national security, from a global competitiveness, and from a job creation standpoint. And we need to do everything we can to incentivize the private sector again to start hiring. That means tax cuts. That means making it a better business environment. That means increasing access to capital. There is a bill that would provide $30 billion to community banks. $12 billion in tax breaks to middle to small business. This is something that Congressman Kirk voted against.