Pelosi’s Folly & Pin the Tail on the Donkey
This is the first of a multipart series inspired by an entry on Speaker Pelosi’s website. The folly that is Pelosi must be challenged both on serious grounds as well as for its entertainment value. Apparently the major thrust for Pelosi’s statements rely on the assumption that legislation claimed to be for the benefit of the American citizen must be enacted whether their is any basis in fact for the expressed claims. Pelosi’s entry from her website is posted in full below. The hyperlinked text will take you to the source. In the next post item one will be examined and subsequent items will be treated in later posts. For now you can read the offering from Pelosi either here or at her website. Perhaps you can offer opinions of your own in response to her statements.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Top Ten Questions for the House GOP on Energy08/06/2008
1. House Democrats have put forward 13 major proposals that would increase supply, reduce prices, protect consumers and transition America to a clean, renewable energy-independent future. Each time a majority of House Republicans have voted against these proposals. How can Republicans claim to want to help consumers and businesses when they oppose these policies?
2. Releasing a small amount of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve has proven in the past to be a critical way to reduce energy prices in the short term used in 1991, 2000 and 2005. Why not support Democrats’ effort to free a small amount of the taxpayer-funded government stockpile to influence the price of the pump within days?
3. Exxon Mobil announced the highest ever quarterly profit by a U.S. corporation in history last week. With Exxon Mobil making $1,500 a second, how can House Republicans continue to block efforts to repeal tax subsidies to Big Oil?
4. According to the Bush Administration’s own Energy Department, if we repealed the offshore drilling ban today, oil and gas production would not begin there until 2017, and the impact on prices before 2030 would be “insignificant.” Why do House Republicans keep calling for an action that they know won’t solve today’s energy problems?
5. Senator McCain missed two critical votes in the Senate to promote renewable and conservation. The American people have a right to know why he is putting the interests of Big Oil ahead of American consumers. Why is that?
6. If House Republicans are for “all of the above,” why do you oppose efforts to protect consumers like price gouging and holding OPEC accountable for price fixing?
7. When House Republicans were in the majority for 12 years, our dependence on foreign oil escalated. Why didn’t House Republicans do something about America’s energy independence to ensure we wouldn’t reach the energy crisis we’re in now?
8. Democrats will continue to push for legislation to end undue speculation in the oil market that many analysts say has increased the price of a barrel of oil. Will House Republicans support it?
9. Democrats are committed to helping families across America who struggle to pay their home heating bills during the winter months through the LIHEAP program. Will House Republicans support it? Will Senate Republicans stop blocking it? Will John McCain vote for it? And will President Bush sign it?
10. House Democrats have reiterated their support for a Renewable Electricity Standard to transition electricity sources to renewables. Will House Republicans support this effort?
Background
A list of the 13 measures that large percentages of House Republicans voted against:
* Comprehensive energy legislation that includes the first new vehicle efficiency standards in 32 years, saving families up to $1,000 a year at the pump. [93 percent, Vote 1140, 12/6/07, HR 6; 50.3 percent, Vote 1177, 12/18/07, HR 6]
* Tax incentives for renewable electricity, energy and fuel from America’s heartland, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy efficient homes, buildings, and appliances — four times in just the last 18 months. [82 percent, Vote 344, 5/21/08, HR 6049; 91 percent, Vote 84, 2/27/2008; 93 percent, Vote 1140, 12/6/07, HR 6; 95 percent, Vote 835, HR 2776]
* Investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy, including solar, biofuels, hydropower, and geothermal energy, as well as new vehicle technology and energy efficient buildings and homes, with a 50 percent increase over the President’s request. [56 percent, Vote 641, 7/17/07, HR 2641]
* Landmark energy efficiency standards for buildings, homes, appliances, and lighting to save consumers $400 billion through 2030. [93 percent, Vote 1140, 12/6/07, HR 6; 50.3 percent; Vote 1177, 12/18/07, HR 6]
* Requiring that 15 percent of American electricity come from renewable energy by 2020. [83 percent, Vote 827, 8/4/07, amendment to HR 3221]
* Reducing transit fares for commuter rail and buses and expanding service through grants to transit agencies. [52 percent, Vote 467, 6/26/08, HR 6052]
* Responsible drilling in Alaska in the National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A). [86 percent, Vote 511, 7/17/08, HR 6515]
* Requiring oil companies to drill on 68 million acres they already control. [94 percent, Vote 469, 6/26/08, HR 6251]
* Releasing a small portion of the government’s oil stockpile, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, to bring down gasoline prices. [81 percent, Vote 527, 7/24/08, H.R. 6578]
* Cracking down on price gouging oil companies that artificially inflate the price of energy. [74 percent, Vote 448, 6/24/08, HR 6346]
* Repealing unnecessary subsidies for the top five oil companies earning record profits — four times over the last 18 months. [91 percent, Vote 84, 2/27/2008; 93 percent, Vote 1140, 12/6/07, HR 6; 95 percent, Vote 835, HR 2776; 81 percent, Vote 40, 1/18/07, HR 6]
* Recouping royalties that oil companies owe American taxpayers for drilling on public lands. [86 percent, Vote 832, 8/4/07, HR 3221; 81 percent, Vote 40, 1/18/07, HR 6]
* Curbing excessive speculation in the energy futures markets [69 percent, Vote 540, 7/30/08, HR 6604]
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