rlmorel
Posted on 09/09/2008 6:44:31 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Press Releases Contact: Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami 202-226-7616 For Immediate Release 09/09/2008 Pelosi on Energy Bill: Whose Side Are You on? The American Consumer and the Taxpayer, or Big Oil?
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic leaders held a news conference today to discuss the comprehensive energy bill to be introduced this week. Below are her remarks:
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, especially in these cramped quarters. But I come from our Caucus meeting very energized by what our Members had to say, pun intended. As we have discussed this month, Democrats will continue efforts to take America in a New Direction.
“For our economy and our energy policy, we are organized, we are unified, we’re focused, we’re disciplined, and we’re ready to go. Two of the issues that are at center stage are the energy policy legislation that we have put forth and a possible stimulus package. These are related, in fact, because they address the economic insecurity of America’s working families, and they also address the problems challenging Americans who are out of work.
“Today more than 9 million Americans are out of work, the unemployment rate is a five-year high. We must take immediate action to strengthen our economy. We’ve been saying that for a while, the Administration has resisted, hopefully the statistics will speak eloquently to the White House that a stimulus package is needed. It will be a stimulus package to create jobs.
“Some of the items on the agenda that we will discuss with the Administration, of course we need the President’s signature, are issues that relate to rebuilding the infrastructure of America and creating good paying jobs here in America. Other issues relate to addressing the concerns of states in terms of Medicaid and Freddie Mac and that kind of funding: LIHEAP, food stamps, unemployment insurance related to the high unemployment rate that we see now.
“An important part of the stimulus package, or free standing bill, depending on, as I said when I was in Iowa last week, whichever engine can leave the station sooner as our disaster assistance right now. Before we even fully met the needs of the Midwest and the storms they have suffered there, we have additional storms coming through the South. We have unmet needs from the previous hurricanes and now more to come. So we passed in our package $2.65 billion at the end of June following the Memorial weekend disaster. More is needed.
“I’ll talk about that if you wish, about my visit to Iowa yesterday. We went all over the state and some of the devastation was just stunning, and some of it in certain neighborhood resembled what we have seen as a result of Katrina.
“We will vote on a comprehensive energy policy – and what I told you about the stimulus package was not all inclusive, there are other items, I was giving you a sample of what could be in such a bill.
“This week, the House will vote on comprehensive energy legislation that is a result of a reasonable compromise.
“I am very proud of our Caucus and how we are coming together on this. It will put us on the path toward energy independence by expanding domestic supply. It will protect consumers and taxpayers with strong action to lower the price of the pump and end taxpayer giveaways to Big Oil. It will ensure a clean green future through energy efficiency and conservation, and it will commit America to renewable energy and help create millions of good paying green jobs. It will put us on that path to make America energy independent of foreign oil within a decade. That was a goal of President Nixon in 1970. It wasn’t fulfilled then; it will be fulfilled now.
“This comprehensive energy legislation is the result of serious compromising among Democrats to bring down gas prices now and invest in a renewable future. Republicans must set aside their ‘drill only’ policy; even their own supporters have said we cannot drill ourselves out of this emergency situation.
“It will come down to this when it comes to energy. Whose side are you on? The side of the American consumer and the taxpayer, or Big Oil?
“If they want to drill offshore we say, ‘Okay, if you want to drill on the outer continental shelf, let’s have a discussion and a change of the relationship between our oil, which is owned by the American people, the desire of Big Oil for us to subsidize their drilling, and us not to, the American people not getting the benefit of the profits.’ So more drilling, no subsidies, and we want our royalties, in order to pay for investments in renewable energy resources, make a strong commitment to LIHEAP and the land and conservation fund, something like that.
“And if you oppose that, what are you saying? ‘I’m for drilling and for subsidized Big Oil and I want all of the profits to go to Big Oil, and I don’t want to visit this relationship of getting the funds that we are owed from the royalties of holidays in the late 90s.’
“It’s pretty exciting because we’re at a crucial place in our energy future and this decision will be an important one, and we want the American people to see the distinction between the Democrats and the Republicans on this. Do you want to drill now on the continental shelf? We want our royalties. No more subsidies for you. We want those subsidies and those royalties for LIHEAP, for renewable energy resources, for a better energy future for our country.”
Nancy, please don’t bother with your lies.
The current economic and energy issues we face today are a direct result of liberal stonewalling against policies forwarded by President Bush.
When this election cycle is over President McCain will be in the White House and your own party will dethrone you from ANY leadership position in Congress.
rlmorel
“....Americans must be sick of this crap by now.”
Agreed, American’s are sick of this crap, however because the media isn’t pointing the finger where it belongs, all too many are unaware they are being screwed over by the Democrats.
They think because G.W. Bush, the REPUBLICAN President is in office that it is the REPUBLICANS that are screwing them over, and the Dems, and their minions in the MSM are happy to let them continue to think that.
Well, then all the Republicans have to do between now and Sept. 30 is help Pelosi doing what she does best-—nothing. The offshore ban will expire unless she pushes a bill to reinstate it. Can’t we just let her do that?
Which direction is that Nancy? Down the tubes? Higher gasoline and food prices for everyone? People are already cutting back on fuel purchases, and taxes to the govt. are suffering as a result. (In case you hadn't noticed, the Federal Highway Fund is about to run out of money.) Get off your liberal lazy partisan butt and do something!
A stimulus package for people who don’t pay any taxes.
"The Democrats refuse to let the oil drilling ban expire. They're ignoring the situation in the world today, and think it's acceptable for the American people to pay the price for their short-sightedness".
That'll work for 2-3 weeks... and that's all we need.
How about on the side of both.
Oil companies produce more oil which likely will improve their stock prices ( and hence millions of us “ common folk tax payers “ gain by having more money in our IRA/401k/Annuities et al since many of us own these companies stocks) AND we common folk tax payers get cheaper fuel for our cars/trucks AND our common folk food and other products price’s drop thus encouraging more spending by the common folk public since they can afford more. AND for the Dems, more taxes will be collected as the big bad Oil companies will make more profits, of which they will pay a hefty tax amount, AND more people will start driving more since fuel is cheaper(thus the the Dems will have a tingle up their legs ala Chrissy). AND winter fuel costs might be less for the common folk which in turn will make the choice of paying for the fuel bill or the mortgage less of a battle which will in turn help reduce foreclosure rates all from doing a small bit of drilling 50 miles from our shores and in a vast wasteland known as ANWR. Huh, whoda thunk.
How hard is it for her and other Dems to get that when companies succeed in bringing cheaper products to the people who buy them we have a better economy as a whole. Agggggggghhhhhhhhh!!! It’s not that tough to understand. And seriously, when is the last “major” oil spill situation where the world has come down on America as being bad environmentalists...exxon Valdez 20+ years ago? Man my blood pressure rises when I think about how stupid the leaders of Congress are about basis economic theory.
I think they need to have an Econ 101 and 102 Micro and Macro economic course taught on Capitol Hill next session. Maybe that will help them get a better feel for the real world since they live in a world of doing just enough to not do anything.
Without Big Oil, I suppose I will be cold, stuck at home and starving. How about you, Nancy?
Yep, I agree that will work. I just hope our RINOs don't get in the way with some sort of bipartisan compromise.
Contact your Congress critters to let them know that you are tired of high gas prices.
U. S. House of Representatives
And un-elect all the dimocrats who will not support drilling EVERYWHERE!
Nancy Pelosi is deeply disturbed!
How can a mentally handicapped Marxist be in such a high office?
I pose the identical question to a certain Nevada Senator.
Who elects these people?
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