Politics

Despite Bipartisan Support For Comprehensive Energy Reform, GOP Has A ?None of the Above? Record

By Karina

Despite Republicans? claims to support renewable energy and reducing American dependence on foreign oil, their votes support returning to the Bush Administration?s “drill-only” energy policy that led to record profits for Big Oil, even greater U.S. dependence on oil from the Middle East, and record energy costs for America?s working families.

The Republican leadership has consistently opposed and voted against bills to:

strengthen our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil,

create skilled new American clean energy jobs that can?t be outsourced,

boost American innovation to invent and build the clean energy technology that will power the world, and

hold Big Oil accountable to explore and produce domestic energy on already leased lands, at competitive prices, in an clean and safe manner.

Just last week, more than 90 percent of House Republicans demonstrated their allegiance to special interests by voting against Home Star?bipartisan legislation to create jobs and lower energy costs for consumers by promoting energy efficient home improvements. More on their record:

		AMERICAN ENERGY	MARKET OVERSIGHT	FREE OUR OIL	DRILL ACT	"USE IT OR LOSE IT"	PRICE GOUGING
	REP. BOEHNER MINORITY LEADER	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. CANTOR MINORITY WHIP	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. PENCE CONFERENCE CHAIR	NO	NOT VOTING	NO	NO	NO	NOT VOTING
	REP. MCMORRIS RODGERS VICE CHAIR	NO	AYE	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. MCCOTTER POLICY CHAIR	NO	AYE	NO	NO	NO	AYE
	REP. BURGESS POLICY VICE CHAIR	NO	NOT VOTING	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. CARTER CONFERENCE SECRETARY	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. SESSIONS NRCC CHAIR	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. MCCARTHY CHIEF DEPUTY WHIP	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
		HR 6899	HR 6604	HR 6578	HR 6515	HR 6251	HR 6346

		GREEN JOBS	NOPEC PRICE FIXING	PUBLIC TRANSIT	ENERGY SECURITY	RECOVERY ACT	ACES	HOMESTAR
	REP. BOEHNER MINORITY LEADER	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. CANTOR MINORITY WHIP	NO	AYE	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. PENCE CONFERENCE CHAIR	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. MCMORRIS RODGERS VICE CHAIR	NO	NOT VOTING	NO	AYE	NO	NO	NO
	REP. MCCOTTER POLICY CHAIR	NO	AYE	AYE	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. BURGESS POLICY VICE CHAIR	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. CARTER CONFERENCE SECRETARY	NOT VOTING	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO
	REP. SESSIONS NRCC CHAIR	NO	NOT VOTING	NO	AYE	NO	NO	NO
	REP. MCCARTHY CHIEF DEPUTY WHIP	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	NOT VOTING
		HR 6049	HR 6074	HR 6052	HR 6	HR 1	HR 2454	HR 5019

A new poll released by Republicans for Environmental Protection and Bellwether Research & Consulting shows strong bipartisan support among Americans for comprehensive energy reform that moves our country to a clean energy economy and away from dependence on foreign oil:

67 percent of Americans support a national energy policy that will expand domestic energy production while setting industry caps on carbon dioxide emissions. Support by political affiliation:

80 percent of Democrats
68 percent of Independents
52 percent of Republicans

In June, the House-passed American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) to:

CREATE AND SAVE JOBS: Moving to a clean energy economy and transitioning off foreign oil will create whole new industries and millions of new jobs. A jobs study concluded that the American Clean Energy and Security Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act would create 1.7 million new clean energy jobs. [Center for American Progress]

MAKE US MORE ENERGY INDEPENDENT: The American Clean Energy and Security Act?combined with the 2007 energy bill and the Obama Administration?s plan to ramp up vehicle fuel efficiency standards - will cut the use of oil by more than 5 million barrels a day in 2030. That is equivalent to all the oil we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela and one-fourth of our nation?s current total daily consumption.

REDUCE POLLUTION/FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE: The American Clean Energy and Security Act would reduce total climate change emissions 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. The efficiency savings alone will reduce projected carbon pollution in 2020 by the equivalent of taking 57 million cars off the road for a year. [ACEEE]

KEEP COSTS LOW: Transitioning from foreign oil and creating millions of jobs will have minimal impact on average households?just 20 to 32 cents a day?less than a postage stamp?or $74 to $117 per year. [EPA] The bill helps all consumers with price spike protection, with additional monthly energy refunds so those in need will see no cost. The bill will not increase the federal deficit. Investing in energy efficiency technology will save the average American household more than $4,000 by 2030. [ACEEE]

Learn more about ACES»
Learn more about Home Star»
Learn more about other energy independence legislation»

Full post as published by The Gavel on May 10, 2010 (boomark / email).