Boone Still Optimistic: Daily Oklahoman

T. Boone Pickens met with reporters in Washington, DC this week and, according to the Daily Oklahoman,

“He is still optimistic Congress will pass a bill this year to boost production of heavy duty trucks that run on natural gas, and that he won’t give up if the legislation fails in a postelection session.”

The Natural Gas Act, which Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced just before the Congress broke for the mid-term elections, is due to come to the floor for a procedural vote on November 17, shortly after they return.

U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn is not opposed to the provisions of the bill but “he has asked aides to look for other ways to offset the costs” than the proposed increase from eight to 21 cent tax on each barrel of oil produced or imported.

If the bill is adopted by the House and Senate and goes to the White House,

“Pickens said President Barack Obama would be the first U.S. president who could say he reduced the nation’s dependence on imported oil if he were to sign the bill.”

To read the entire report in the Daily Oklahoman, click HERE.

— The Pickens Team