The Kerry Line: Kerry's Energy Policy Obstruction

George W. Bush ^ | May 18, 2004

[RWR8189]

"John Kerry supported a 50 cent tax on a gallon of gas and voted for higher gas taxes 10 times. Kerry has obstructed efforts to enact a comprehensive energy policy that would ensure a reliable energy supply, key to lowering gas prices."

-Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

Kerry On Strategic Petroleum Reserve

In February 2000, Kerry Said Release Of Oil From The Strategic Petroleum Reserves Would Not Be "Relevant." "Without being specific, Kerry, a key member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, suggested the US could retaliate economically in other trade areas. He also said he does not want a release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. A release 'is not relevant. It would take months for the oil to get to the market,' he said." (Cathy Landry, "US Energy Chief Warns Of Gasoline Crisis," Platt's Oilgram News, 2/17/00)

Today, Democrats Are Calling For The Same Action Kerry Said Would Not Be "Relevant." "Half a dozen Senate Democrats plan to call on Bush today to begin releasing as many as 60 million barrels of oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Such a move would inject much-needed supplies into a market choked by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and pulled tight by rising world demand, they say." (Weisman, "Bush's Handling of Gas Costs Criticized," The Washington Post, 5/18/04)

Kerry Opposes ANWR Exploration

Kerry Voted Against ANWR Exploration Seven Times.

Kerry Vowed "We Can No Longer Tolerate A Dependence On Foreign Oil" But Criticizes Bush Administration For Proposing Drilling In ANWR, Which Teamsters Support For Its Creation Of Over 700,000 New Jobs. (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At John F. Kennedy Library, Boston, MA, 2/9/03; International Brotherhood Of Teamsters, "Teamsters Lead Grassroots ANWR Support," Press Release, 4/17/01)

Kerry's Energy Policy Obstruction

Kerry Advocates An Energy Policy To "Aggressively Develop Oil And Gas Supplies" and "Develop Renewable Fuels." (Reuters, "Kerry would press OPEC, boost renewable energy," 3/29/04)

In 2003, Kerry Missed Vote, Helping Defeat Energy Bill.

• Kerry Camp Said He Would Have Voted Against Bill. (Katharine McQuaid, "Kerry, Edwards Miss MtBE Vote," The [Manchester NH] Union Leader, 11/22/03)

Energy Bill Included Renewable Energy Proposals:

• Authorizes $300 Million For Solar Programs; 
• Establishes renewable fuels mandate, requiring 5 billion gallons of ethanol in gasoline by 2012;
• Authorizes $2.5 Billion toward the goal of putting a hydrogen car on the road by 2020;
• Provides new tax credits for the purchase of hybrid motor vehicles, lean-burn diesel vehicles, alternative-fuel motor vehicles, and fuel cell motor vehicles;
• Launches Programs For Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Transit Buses And Hydrogen Fuel-Cell School Buses;
• Authorizes Over $2.9 Billion In Funding Over The Next Five Years For Renewable Energy Research And Development.

Energy Bill Included Tax Credits For Wind Power And By Missing Vote, Kerry Killed American Jobs. NPR'S JEFF YOUNG: "Vestas Group, the world's leading maker of wind turbines, had planned a new plant in Oregon with a thousand employees. Now that's up in the air. Wind farms proposed for Minnesota and Iowa are stalled, and Swisher says layoffs are coming." (NPR's "Morning Edition," 12/31/03)

Kerry Supported Higher Gas Taxes At Least 11 Times As Senator Including A 50 Cent Increase

Voted Twice For Clinton/Gore Btu Tax, Increasing Gas Prices 7.5 Cents Per Gallon.

Voted For 1993 Clinton/Kerry Tax Plan That Increased Gas Taxes Twice. The 1993 Budget Resolution conference report included a 4.3 cents-per-gallon increase in the gas tax.

Voted To Kill An Amendment That Would Have Eliminated Gas Tax Increase From Budget Resolution.

Voted At Least Four Times Against Repealing Clinton 4.3-Cent Increase In Gas Tax. In 1996, the Senate Republican Policy Committee estimated the 1993 increase in the gas tax cost consumers $5 billion per year.

1994: Backed Half-Dollar Increase In Gas Tax. "Kerry said [the Concord Coalition's scorecard] method did not accurately reflect individual lawmakers' efforts to cut the deficit. 'It doesn't reflect my $43 billion package of cuts or my support for a 50-cent increase in the gas tax,' Kerry said." (Jill Zuckman, "Deficit-Watch Group Gives High Marks To 7 N.E. Lawmakers," The Boston Globe, 3/1/94)

In 2000, Kerry Voted Against Suspending The 18.4 Cent Gas Tax For 150 Days.

[marlon]

I didn't want the petroleum released from the strategic reserves before I did. I mean really this guy is a first class clown.

[Mike Darancette]

Today, Democrats Are Calling For The Same Action Kerry Said Would Not Be "Relevant."

Can someone explain to Komrad Kerry what a commodity is?

Release of our strageic reserve would lower prices for Kerry's European buddies.

[Smartass]

[solo gringo]

The Demo-wacko house and senate law makers should be horse whipped for their stupidity for voting against drilling in anwar.Hell you can't drill here in south Texas because it takes years to get permits that you can blame on the socialist/demo-wackos.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The thing is, even if ANWAR passed and drilling began for oil off American shores, it would have hardly had an effect on gas prices today. It takes YEARS to develop oil, transport the oil, refine the oil, and get it to the market.

Bush should do the honorable thing and ask Congress to rescind the federal gas tax. That would immediately lower the price of gas back to around a comfortable $1.40 - $1.50 and speed up the economic recovery.

[Vinnie]

The Demo-wacko house and senate law makers should be horse whipped for their stupidity for voting against drilling in anwar.

They want the issue, not a fix. Same with Social Security.

[solo gringo]

But if we were drilling in anwar just the idea we are doing the drilling would scare the pants, smocks or whatever of the Arab. The Demo-wacko would wake up and say hey we want a piece of the action and maybe they would not be so anti-American.
Putting all this aside we do not have the capacity to refine any more gas under the conditions without building more refinery's