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When the House of Representatives takes up arms against $4 gas by voting 324-84 to sue OPEC, you know that election-year discourse has gone surreal. Another unmistakable sign is when a presidential candidate makes a gaffe, then, realizing it is too egregious to take back without suffering humiliation, decides to make it a centerpiece of his foreign policy...

Do Something NOW!Let Senators Bingaman and Domenici know you want them to pass the American Energy Production Act out of committee for a full vote on the floor of the United States Senate! (Learn more about SB 2958 on Herman's links page) The New Herman Cain Show Weeknights 7pm - 10pm On News/Talk 750 WSBListen! You just might learn something! Do Something NOW! Let Senators Bingaman and Domenici know you want them to pass the American Energy Production Act out of committee for a full vote on the floor of the United States Senate! Below is a suggested message...

The Dirksen Congressional Center says its namesake, the late Sen. Everett Dirksen, R-Ill., never spoke the words popularly attributed to him — "A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money." Still, those words came to mind when we read that President Bush, facing a certain veto override from Congress seeking to do something about record gasoline prices in an election year, reluctantly signed a bill suspending Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) deposits for the next six months. The role reversals in this debate were stunning. Democrats said injecting 70,000 additional barrels of oil a day into...

President Bush yesterday characterized Capitol Hill Democrats as hypocrites for demanding that Saudi Arabia pump more oil while blocking attempts to increase domestic drilling in such places as Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that it would meet Mr. Bush's request to increase oil production, though the jump of 300,000 barrels per day was less than the president had wanted. But rather than criticize the Saudis, Mr. Bush — after a round of meetings with Middle East leaders at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheik — instead heaped blame on congressional Democrats for skyrocketing...

Texas families are attempting to cope with the latest spike in energy costs and record gasoline prices. The problem is acute everywhere, particularly in North Texas, where use of energy is not an option. People spend a lot of time driving – to work, school or the grocery store. The average family is now paying $1,400 per year more for gasoline than it did last year. Higher associated costs for food and electricity are adding to the burden. Rising prices are caused by several factors, including increased demand for energy in a fast-developing world. The situation has been aggravated by...

The public must pressure Republicans in the White House and Congress to change directions in the country's energy policies, which have pushed oil and gas prices to record highs, a Democratic lawmaker said Saturday. Sen. Debbie Stabenow said the rising price of oil, fostered by President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney's close ties to the oil industry, is no longer just a burden. "Now it is a crisis for every American family," the Michigan senator said in the Democrats' weekly radio address. She called the current energy situation "a crisis that doesn't just affect us at the pump, but...

President Bush entered office calling on Congress to pass the first national energy plan in a generation. He proposed a comprehensive energy plan to encourage conservation and energy efficiency; expand the use of alternative and renewable energy; increase the domestic production of conventional fuels; and invest in modernization of our energy infrastructure. The energy bill passed by Congress this week paves the way for a brighter and more secure energy future with more reliable, affordable, and clean sources of energy to power America forward. It will help put us on the path to reducing our dependence on foreign sources...

Here's what the leaders of the congressional Democrats told the American people two years ago to persuade voters to bring them to power: — "Democrats have a common-sense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices." (Nancy Pelosi, now speaker of the House). — "Democrats believe that we can do more for the American people who are struggling to deal with high gas prices." (Steny Hoyer, now House majority leader). — "House Democrats have a plan to help curb rising gas prices." (Jim Clyburn, now House majority whip). When Pelosi was sworn in as speaker, the national average price for...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defying a threat of a presidential veto, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi intends to push ahead with a $21 billion tax package, including repeal of tax breaks for major oil companies, as part of an energy bill, aides to the speaker said Tuesday. Democratic leaders circulated a summary of the legislation that includes the new taxes as well as a requirement for a 40 percent increase in automobile fuel efficiency, a huge increase in the use of ethanol as a motor fuel, and a mandate for utilities to use renewable fuels. Republicans earlier this year blocked Senate attempts...

Dems Reach Deal on Energy Bill By H. JOSEF HEBERT – 14 hours ago WASHINGTON (AP) — An agreement among congressional Democrats — including those from auto industry states — to support a 40 percent increase in vehicle fuel efficiency is likely to be the tonic needed to push energy legislation through Congress before Christmas. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., a longtime protector of the auto industry, settled their differences in an agreement late Friday on the fuel economy, or CAFE, issue, clearing the way for a House vote on a broader energy bill, probably on...

WASHINGTON - Congressional Democrats reached a compromise late today to boost automobile fuel economy by 40 percent, clearing the way for a House vote probably next week on an energy bill that Democratic leaders would like to send to President Bush before Christmas. The agreement came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reached an accord with Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., a longtime protector of the auto industry that dominates his home state, to ease the impact of the new fuel economy requirements. "A compromise has been reached on automobile fuel efficiency standards," Dingell announced in a statement. Automakers would be required...

On its way out of town for summer vacation, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an energy bill that would require, among other things, that electric utility companies produce 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. In addition, the House energy bill directs the Department of Energy to set new energy efficiency appliance standards, outlaws 100-watt incandescent light bulbs after 2012, and requires that all bulbs be 300 times more efficient than ordinary bulbs are today by 2020. The measure also provides $3.5 billion in subsidies to install E-85 (fuel that is 85 percent ethanol and 15...

Congress's energy policies would hinder America's economy. America's domestic oil production is declining, importation of oil is rising, and gasoline is more expensive. The government's Energy Information Administration reports that U.S. crude oil field production declined to 1.9 billion barrels in 2005 from 3.5 billion in 1970, and the share of our oil that is imported has increased to 60% from 27% in 1985. The price of gasoline has risen to $3.02 this month from $2 in today's dollars in 1985. Washington politicians will tell you this is an "energy crisis," but America's energy challenges are far more political than...

The Bush administration's new energy plan to reduce gasoline demand by 20 percent could have an unintended side effect. Linda Adams, California's Environmental Protection Agency secretary, says it could increase greenhouse gas emissions. It's the latest shot at the Bush administration by the governor and his administration over global warming. The president's outlined his plan yesterday in his state of the union address. He proposes to increase the amount of alternative fuel refiners must blend with gasoline over the next 10 years. But California officials say the federal government's definition of alternative fuel encompasses ways that burn fossil fuels or...

In the state's biggest, immediate step toward cutting global warming pollution, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week began shifting California's 26 million cars and trucks off petroleum-based fuels and toward alternatives that emit less greenhouse gas. The governor said his new greenhouse-gas standard for transportation fuels -- the world's first -- "leads us away from fossil fuel" and would help "in moving the entire country beyond debate, denial and inaction" on global warming. State air-pollution regulators expect to work out the details during the next 18 months. The policy would limit the amount of greenhouse gases released for each bit of...

Pelosi: Republican Energy Policy Is to Drill in Protected Areas and Give Tax Breaks to Big Oil 6/29/2006 6:40:00 PM To: National Desk, Congressional Correspondent Contact: Brendan Daly or Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616, both of Office of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi; Web: http://democraticleader.house.gov WASHINGTON, June 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in opposition to H.R. 4761, which opens up new areas of the Outer Continental Shelf for oil and gas drilling and allows drilling 50 miles from the coastline: "This bill is bad for the environment of coastal states. By revoking the...

Unprecedented economic growth and the President is suffering from anemic approval ratings. Why? Because the high price of gasoline is taking a large chunk out of our paychecks. Now that Republicans control both houses of Congress and the Oval Office, Republicans must either take the initiative or take the blame on election day. Republicans in Congress must pass an energy bill. The bill must provide immediate relief and longterm solutions. If Senate Democrats obstruct the process, let them do so on the record and face the voters in November. I suggest the following: Phase One: Immediate relief: The federal gasoline...

Bush marks Earth Day with focus on alternative fuels SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - President George W. Bush marked Earth Day on Saturday by highlighting technology that could reduce U.S. dependence on oil, while Democrats used a spike in gas prices to criticize White House energy policy. With oil prices hitting a record high this week and gas at the pump topping $3 a gallon in some places, Democrats hoping to win control of the U.S. Congress in November elections seized on the issue to make a populist argument against big oil companies and Republicans' ties to them. Critics are also...

Bush: U.S. on Verge of Energy Breakthrough Feb 20, 4:44 PM (ET) By DEB RIECHMANN MILWAUKEE (AP) - Saying the nation is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that would "startle" most Americans, President Bush on Monday outlined his energy proposals to help wean the country off foreign oil. Less than half the crude oil used by refineries is produced in the United States, while 60 percent comes from foreign nations, Bush said during the first stop on a two-day trip to talk about energy. Some of these foreign suppliers have "unstable" governments that have fundamental differences with America, he...

  For Immediate ReleaseJuly 30, 2005 President's Radio Address      Audio      THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This year Congress and I have addressed many key priorities of the American people and we're making great progress. At the start of the year, I urged Congress to ease the burden of junk lawsuits on American workers, businesses and families, so Congress passed, and I signed, bipartisan class-action reform. We called for restoring integrity to the bankruptcy process, so Congress passed, and I signed common-sense reform of our nation's bankruptcy laws. I requested vital funds for our men and women in uniform, so Congress...