Two Openings for Republicans

In a year when Democrats are expected to roll over Republicans in the Congressional races, two issues are certain winners for Republicans if they can avoid wimping out to liberal threats and RINO nonsense: energy and immigration. The nation was treated to a raw demonstration of the power of the illegal immigration issue when a liberal governor of liberal New York state proclaimed the issuance of drivers licenses to illegals. Governor Spitzer, now retired in disgrace, had to reverse his order, and Hillary Clinton lost all her momentum by hemming and hawing over this issue.

Now also $4.00 gasoline may have galvanized support for a relaxation of ridiculous environmental regulations that prevent us from developing our own energy. Man’s progress, standard of living and job growth far outweigh most environmental concerns. Environmental extremists and Nazis have shut us down.

If the Republican candidates can convince the nation that they are the party that will stop illegal immigration, and that they are the party that will push through oil drilling and nuclear plant construction, and that the Democrats want to stop all drilling and have open borders, we have a chance to make some headway politically and substantively.

May 21, 2008 Politico.com
Categories: energy

House Republicans unveil energy agenda

House Republicans unveiled their energy policy agenda Wednesday morning on the steps of the Capitol, hoping to put a spate of bad headlines behind them and seize the upper hand on a critical issue, as gas prices once again hit record highs.

The GOP plan was particularly focused on increasing domestic production, an idea Democrats have been cool to due to environmental concerns and a desire to focus on alternative energy sources rather than domestic drilling.

The Republican agenda also called for conservation tax credits, the increased use of nuclear power, an emphasis on coal to liquid technologies and for construction of new oil refineries.

On the production issue, Republicans called for increased drilling in the outer continental shelf, tapping into domestic oil share reserves and once again calling for drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge, which has been a flashpoint in the energy debate going back to the early 1990's.

“It defies reality that China is drilling for oil off the coast of Cuba, but we cannot drill off of our own shores,” said Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.).

The energy issue has been thrust into the political spotlight in recent months, as gas prices continue to skyrocket.

Oil prices hit another record on Wednesday, reaching $132 per barrel, while the national average for a gallon of gasoline also set a record, topping $3.80.
In addition to the Wednesday press conference, House Republicans laid out their agenda in a strategy memo for members obtained by Politico.

“Republicans are committed to a comprehensive energy reform policy that will boost supplies of all forms of energy right here at home to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, protect us against blackmail by foreign dictators, create American jobs, and grow our economy,” the document states.

Republicans also piled on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), accusing her of not doing enough to address rising gas prices after taking control of Congress in 2006.

"Once a nightmare scenario, $4 gasoline has become a harsh reality – on Speaker Pelosi’s watch – and now Americans are paying nearly $1.50 more per gallon at the pump than when the Speaker took office," the strategy memo states.

The speaker hit back quickly on Wednesday, calling the GOP plan “stale rhetoric” that will do little to solve the problem.

"President Bush and congressional Republicans have spent the last seven years doling out billions of dollars in subsidies to the Big Oil companies, instead of working for an energy independence plan for America," Pelosi said in a statement.

Pelosi highlighted recent House-passed bills to suspend shipments to the strategic petroleum reserve, hold OPEC responsible for price fixing and efforts to invest in renewable fuels, as examples of Democratic action on the issue.

Republicans, however, honed in on the production issue, with some calling for immediate action.

“The time for talk is long past,” said Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). “It is time for action.”

What the country has to realize is that the Democrat leaders, like Nancy Pelosi, are only posturing, because it is their game plan to see gasoline prices go skyhigh in order to squash the driving habits of Americans. If it were completely up to them, we would all be driving tiny European-like cars or not at all.