WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the Senate Democrats’ climate change talk-a-thon and the need for legislation that would promote American jobs:

“The Democrats who run the Senate spent a lot of time talking last night.

“I’m not sure what any of it accomplished. The reviews seem pretty terrible.

“The AP dubbed the talk-a-thon ‘a lot of hot air about a lot of hot air,’ and said ‘the speeches were about little more than theatrics.’

“Maybe, as some speculate, Senate Democrats were just trying to please the Left Coast billionaire who plans to finance so many of their campaigns.

“Because the talking Senators didn’t really introduce new legislation.

“I didn’t hear the talking Senators announce votes on bills already pending before the Senate.

“They basically just talked. And talked. And tossed out political attacks at a party that doesn’t even control the Democrat-run Senate.

“No wonder the American people have such a low opinion of Congress.

“The so-called ‘talk-a-thon’ perfectly illustrated something else too: the emptiness of today’s Washington Democrat majority.

“I remember a time when Democrats could say, with some legitimacy, that they were a party for working people.

“Those days seem to be receding further and further into the rearview mirror.

“Because whether it’s addressing the opportunity gap in the Obama Economy or building the Keystone Pipeline or last night’s, whatever that was, Washington Democrats keep opting for the empty political stunt over reasonable, substantive solutions for the Middle Class.

“And here’s the thing: We need two serious political parties in this country, debating serious ideas. When we see Washington Democrats throwing seriousness out the window like this, it’s just bad for everyone.

“So if Washington Democrats are actually serious about all the talk last night, they should follow it up with action. Democrats control the Senate. Bring up the cap-and-tax bill and let’s have a debate.

“But, as the AP noted, despite all the bravado, ‘Democratic leaders made it clear they have no plans to bring a climate bill to the Senate floor this year.

“And the reason they won’t isn’t because of obstructionism or whatever else they might want to claim: it’s because too many members of their own party would vote against it.

“Remember: Washington Democrats couldn’t even pass that bill when they controlled the Senate with a filibuster-proof majority.

“More importantly, the American people don’t want a national energy tax that would make their utility bills even higher.

“Look: Americans have wildly differing opinions about how Washington should be approaching environmental policy. That much is clear. But one thing we should all be able to agree upon is this: imposing massive restrictions on our own economy, devastating the lives of our own mining families, and imposing higher energy bills on our own seniors that makes about zero sense while huge carbon-emitters like China and India continue to ramp up energy consumption.

“Global carbon emissions would hardly be affected anyway, but millions of lives here sure would be. The American Middle Class sure would be.

“So, Left, Right, and Center. We should all be able to agree that this is simply nonsensical.

“What we should all be working for is an all-of-the-above energy strategy that will utilize more of our domestic resources to create jobs and meet America’s energy needs. It’s a smart and focused approach that accommodates both our economy and our environment, and it’s one Republicans support strongly. Democrats should too.

“Democrats should also work with us to pass the legislation that would allow Congress to actually vote on environmental regulations – to ensure Washington’s rules strike the right balance between protecting the environment and creating jobs.
 
“That legislation is so important to my home state of Kentucky. Case in point, I spent this past weekend with hundreds of coal miners and their families at a rally in eastern Kentucky, and I heard from them how the Administration’s ‘War on Coal’ is hurting so many who struggle every day just to get by. It’s a War that’s taking away hope and destroying jobs.

“And let’s be honest: the most immediate crisis in the Obama Era is a jobs crisis. It always has been.

“If only our friends on the other side were willing to talk a little less and work with us a little more, there’s so much we could get done on that front. There’s so much we could be doing to create jobs and grow the middle class today.

“We could build a Keystone Pipeline that would create thousands of American jobs right away…

“We could increase U.S. exports and expand American jobs with trade legislation…

“We could reform our tax and regulatory structures to free small businesses, so they can grow and hire and enrich their communities.

“And we could pass the dozens of House-passed jobs bills just sitting on the majority leader’s desk — so many that even House Democrats are starting to complain.

“Those are the kinds of things we could get done once Washington Democrats show they’re ready to work with us.

“Talk is cheap, we know that.

“And America’s Middle Class is tired of all the talk. 
 
“They want action. Let’s provide it on jobs.”