Buzz saw Bill meets U.S. Senator Ted Stevens

We have fondly started referring to State Senator Bill Wielechowski as one of the buzz saw boys. Why? Because every time the guy stands up and tries to make a political statement in the form of a loaded question he walks face first into a buzz saw.

Never before was that so evident then last Friday when U.S. Senator Ted Stevens addressed the legislature in Juneau.

Now we've all heard the old Jim Croce tune about how you don't tug on superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind and you don't pull the mask of the old lone ranger...

well there is one more thing you don't do; you don't lecture Ted Stevens on economic development when it's being hampered by environmental activists.

During questions and answers, Wielechowski stood up and preceeded to go where no person should ever go with Ted Stevens. Especially since some of Wielechowski's supporters are the same people who have created the obstacles Ted Stevens has spent his entire career jumping over.  

Wielechowski stood and spoke. "I appreciate your comments on delays and litigation. I'm just wondering whats being done on the federal level to encourage the producers to develop the leases that they already own? We've got Point Thomson for example, 30 years we've been waiting. We've got federal leases in NPRA that haven't been developed, we've got federal leases off shore that haven't been developed, those are the producers who aren't developing. 75% of the offshore and onshore leases aren't being developed."

Sen. Stevens abruptly interrupted Wielechowski in a tone that was classic Stevens and then cut loose on him.

"I can tell you right now, if you want to go back and look at them (the leases), litigation is delaying about all of them. Litigation or actions by the states involved in the OCS. We've had one well on our own OCS. Every attempt to drill has been delayed by litigation and they (the producers) finally walk away from it. Those leases onshore on federal lands to a great extent they're tied up in regulations. Someone told me it takes 71 permits to drill a well on federal land. You don't get there in one day or one year. Each one of them almost get to the point a permit is issued, then they're in litigation. So when you look at the leases that aren't developed, look behind that to see what's causing that. Excessive regulations from the bureaus. I dispute what you're saying about those leases", Stevens said.

There is more to Sen. Stevens response and printed words do not do it justice. You really must hear the audio.

On my radio show on Saturday, Rep. Mike Hawker said that after that exchange Wielechowski looked like he was 30 pounds lighter from having so much of his butt chewed off.

To listen to the exchange...and I highly recommend it, click on link below and fast forward to 29:40 on the time stamp.

http://www.ktoo.org/gavel/archive.cfm?audio=13550&request=2D3C5D14B621EA8201F0DD0B4C1E77D7