Things Congress Talks About: Caribou Sex

A Texas Republican congressman is adamant in his backing of the trans-Alaska pipeline, but not because of silly energy independence. No, we must keep the oil flowing for the sake of ... caribou romance. So argued Rep. Louie Gohmert, tongue perhaps in cheek, during a meeting of the House Natural Resources committee last week, reports the Washington Post. Gohmert made the case that the warmth of the oil making its way through the pipeline encourages the randy behavior (and population boom) of the region's caribou.

“So when they want to go on a date, they invite each other to head over to the pipeline,” he said. “So my real concern now ... if oil stops running through the pipeline ... do we need a study to see how adversely the caribou would be affected if that warm oil ever quit flowing?” What the Post calls his "faux concern" for the animals had fellow GOP representative Don Young of Alaska struggling to stifle his laughter. “I’m not sure it’s warmth of the pipeline," he said. (More Alaska stories.)