Pelosi: On First Anniversary of Failed Republican Energy Bill, Americans Struggle With Skyrocketing

House Democratic Leader ^

[Sub-Driver]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 07, 2006

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616 Pelosi: On First Anniversary of Failed Republican Energy Bill, Americans Struggle With Skyrocketing Gas Prices

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on skyrocketing gas prices on the eve of the first anniversary of President Bush’s signing of the failed Republican energy bill on August 8, 2005:

"One year ago, the top Republican charged with drafting the energy bill, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton, said the Republican energy bill ‘will lower energy prices for consumers, spur our economy, [and] create hundreds of thousands of jobs.’

"Wrong, wrong, and wrong.

"While Republicans and Big Oil celebrate their failed energy bill, everyday Americans are struggling to keep up with rising energy prices. Just this evening, the Department of Energy said average gas prices are $3.04 a gallon, and analysts said the price will likely break the record of $3.06 a gallon within the next week. That is a 30 percent increase since President Bush signed the Republican energy bill one year ago tomorrow, and is more than double the price of gas at the start of this Administration. Oil prices have increased by $13 a barrel.

"The day the President signed the energy bill, he promised that it would ‘help our economic growth by addressing the root causes of high energy prices and reducing our dependence on foreign sources of energy.’ Instead, our record dependence on foreign oil has increased and we are sending nearly $1 billion a day to the Middle East and other oil producing countries. Families are paying $3,200 more in household costs this year than in 2001, due primarily to rising energy costs and gas prices.

"Democrats have a New Direction for America, one that would end our dependence on foreign oil – and we intend to do it within 10 years. Our energy plan takes advantage of America’s untapped potential by increasing capacity of biofuels, promoting consumption of those fuels, expanding distribution, and advancing research and development for new technologies. Our plan will send our energy dollars to the Midwest, not the Middle East."

[Sub-Driver]

Big oil, bla bla......

[GeronL]

She is saying they should have passed the GOP energy plan or what??

[Michael.SF.]

will lower energy prices for consumers, spur our economy, [and] create hundreds of thousands of jobs.’

Hey, two out of three ain't bad!

[Argus]

If we could run cars on hot air, the Democrats would be Saudi Arabia.

[backhoe]

I have covered, ( Or, as Seamole calls it...-backhoe's pseudoblog--...-more- ) pseudo-blogged, this subject for years-- My tongue-in-cheek collection of energy-related links:

Sticker Shock-$3 a gallon gas? Click the picture:

And kindly note, and note well-- the first reply to this post ( when gas was $1.45 a gallon ) was snarky... so, who's laughing now?

Vest-Pocket Summary:

1- drill for gas and oil like crazy- onshore, offshore, and in Alaska
2- go nuclear for power
3- convert stationary plants to clean coal technology or Next-Gen Nuclear
4- slash taxes and regulations like crazy

Our consumer-based economy is driven by and dependent upon readily-available, reliable energy-- choke that off, and we'll all be back to using one rotary dial phone in the dining room, watching one TV in the living room, and driving one car per family-- probably a Hudson Hornet or a Nash Metropolitan...

We need to

1) end the nonsensical ban on offshore drilling off California and Florida--read and weep:
Castro Plans to Drill 45 Miles from US Shores, But We Can't

2) build a lot of next-generation nuclear power plants, not just for electricity, but for any process requiring heat, power, or steam.
And if we replaced our existing nuclear plants with this one... there would be significant benefits.

3) end Jimmy Carter's idiotic ban on recycling nuclear waste, and reprocess the stuff rather than fighting over where to bury it. Europe has done this for decades.-- what to do with spent nuclear fuel? Answer here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1468321/posts?page=50#50  Hattip: Mike (former Navy Nuclear Engineer)

4) use the 300-500 years worth of coal we have on our own land, using the new clean-coal technology.
-Clean Coal Centre--

5) and finally, there's nothing wrong with conservation, we should all practice it- but you can't conserve your way out of a shortage. You have to produce more. Nor is there anything wrong with "alternative" energy sources- except they don't supply the vast ( not to mention readily-available and affordable ) amounts of power we need at a price competitive to more conventional sources.

Then again, there is this to ponder:

Energy from the Restless Sea

Energy From the Gulf Stream
http://www.energy.gatech.edu/presentations/mhoover.pdf

More:
Tidal energy farm proposed for Vineyard Sound

We do need to get serious about this before we get strangled by a bunch of petty thieves and dictators who don't like us much.

[Maceman]

Our energy plan takes advantage of America’s untapped potential by increasing capacity of biofuels, promoting consumption of those fuels, expanding distribution, and advancing research and development for new technologies. Our plan will send our energy dollars to the Midwest, not the Middle East.

Umm . . . we have already seen how Democrats' energy policies help solve our energy problems. Remember Jimmy Carter?

[Proud_USA_Republican]

More vocal diarrhea from Pelosi.

[Gritty]

[AmeriBrit]

I have a 'New Direction' for Ms. Pelosi and clan.

Frog march all democRATs and environmentalists to the nearest airport and drop them off at the nearest communist country where I'm sure they'll all be happier, and then we can get on drilling for oil, building new refineries and nuclear plants without any obstruction from those who are determined to see the U.S. become a third world country.

When I see Ms. Pelosi and clan riding a bike to work everyday then and only then will I give up my SUV's.

[xpertskir]

I am going to say two words that any DIM can't and won't understand.

MARKET FORCES

[Just mythoughts]

Ah Nancy 'big government' is the biggest profiteer off a gallon of gas. How about a "tax" cut???

[EagleUSA]

More vocal diarrhea from Pelosi.
------
Hey Nancy, what is YOUR ENERGY PLAN? What, you mean you don't have a plan?? And you did not support Bush's energy plan?? Then what good are you Nancy??

End of discussion.

[RightWhale]

It certainly seems so, and this is not the first time she has talked this way.

[LasVegasMac]

1- drill for gas and oil like crazy- onshore, offshore, and in Alaska

2- go nuclear for power

3- convert stationary plants to clean coal technology or Next-Gen Nuclear

4- slash taxes and regulations like crazy

Would you consider, possibly, running for a political office?

I'd vote for ya.

Several times!

[Tzimisce]

[Coldwater Creek]

Failed in the new Dem buzz word.

Bush failed

Rumsfeld failed and on and on and on and on!!

[upchuck]

"Democrats have a New Direction for America, one that would end our dependence on foreign oil – and we intend to do it within 10 years. Our energy plan takes advantage of America’s untapped potential by increasing capacity of biofuels, promoting consumption of those fuels, expanding distribution, and advancing research and development for new technologies. Our plan will send our energy dollars to the Midwest, not the Middle East."

"But we will NOT drill ANWAR, NOT drill off any of our coastline, NOT put wind turbines where Teddy can see them, NOT approve building more nuclear power plants, NOT approve building more oil refineries, NOT, NOT NOT!!!

"Oh, and thank you BP for giving me this chance to take cheap shots at President Bush."

[Goldie Lurks]

Pelosi: "create hundreds of thousands of jobs." Windmill farms do that? Really?..(sarc.)

[Goldie Lurks]

Mistake..That is the attitude and push from the Dems perspective on using Windmill farms and other enviornmentally controlled energy measures.

[Redbob]

The Dims are BRAGGING about defeating an energy policy that might have done something???