It’s been a particularly bad day on the energy front. Much of the news has surrounded the Environmental Protection Agency issuing an endangerment finding, saying that global warming and climate change pose a serious threat to public health and safety and thus almost anything that emits carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases could be regulated under the Clean Air Act. But very quietly, A program to expand oil and gas drilling off the Alaska coast has been canceled by a federal appeals court because of environmental concerns. A three-judge panel …
That’s how the American voters feel. In a poll conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute, 61 percent of Americans support access to oil and natural gas resources in federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf and the Gulf of Mexico. Only 26 percent opposed. It should be noted that Harris conducted these interviews from February 13 – February 16, 2009, when gas prices were much lower than the $4-per-gallon prices we faced over the summer. Another interesting find: When asked, “If you were to learn …
Last night the Senate passed a $700 billion rescue for the credit crunch that is beginning to hurt small businesses. The House is set to vote tomorrow on the package and the new FDIC fixes, which will likely win enough votes for final passage. But the plan is hardly a silver bullet fix for the U.S. economy. Although there are many regulatory and tax fixes that should be tackled to reform our financial sector, other sectors of our economy are also in desperate need of a regulatory overhaul. Considering her deep …
The two big issues in Washington this week are drilling and bailing out the automakers. Drill, baby, drill. For years, Congress has banned oil and natural gas drilling on most of America’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Less than two weeks ago, the Republican convention erupted with chants of “Drill, Baby, Drill.” In a recent Quinnipiac poll, 62% of likely voters support “drilling for new oil supplies in currently protected areas off shore.” James Gattuso and Nick Loris of The Heritage Foundation have written that the federal government should put the …
Finally giving up some ground to reality, Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled her energy package and conceded more than early reports indicated she would. But despite headlines like “Democrats Reluctantly Embrace Offshore Drilling,” it is exceedingly important that conservatives keep their eye on the ball. Earlier this week, the House leadership promised Congress a vote on the Republican “all-of-the-above” plan. Americans deserve a full debate on energy so it is imperative that conservatives force Pelosi to honor that promise. Pelosi’s Package: Do not believe everything you read about Pelosi’s new willingness …
Congressional Democrats returned to work yesterday after their five-week summer vacation. While House Republicans stayed in Washington to debate energy policy all summer, Congress now has only three weeks left before it adjourns for the year. Many are predicting that little will get done in September, but one issue is guaranteed to be addressed: energy. While Democrats would prefer to do nothing until next year, their failure to pass appropriations bills means Congress must pass a continuing resolution by September 30 or the government will shut down. Any continuing resolution …
Drilling and Defense Spending are the two big issues this week in Washington. For years, Congress has banned oil and natural gas drilling on most of America’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). On Oct. 1, that ban, along with one that forbids the extraction and development of oil shale in the Mountain West, will expire. For the past two years, The Heritage Foundation has sought to make the case that America’s global responsibilities call for an adequate defense budget to train, equip, and modernize an all-volunteer force capable of meeting the …
ST. PAUL — The most common headline or lead for stories about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech last night was that she “electrified” the arena. Watching from our perch in the rafters we have to agree: Palin sent the energy in the Excel Center through the roof. For all the attacks from liberal media commentators this week, Palin proved to the nation that when it comes to the most important issue in this election, energy, she has experience and results in spades. The left says it wants to reduce American …
ST. PAUL – Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) kicked off a House Republican Conference presser today explaining, “Energy is an issue we don’t have to wait till November to address.” For the next five minutes one might have thought they were at a Speaker Nancy Pelosi press conference as Putnam reeled of all of the commitments the GOP is proposing in their ‘All of the Above‘ energy plan including: tax incentives for businesses and families that purchase fuel efficient vehicles, permanently extending the tax credit for wind and solar power, and …
The ‘Gang of 10‘ energy plan being sold by a bipartisan group of Senators claims to be a ‘compromise‘ that Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) calls “a step in the right direction.” But is it? Does the bill really make an honest attempt to develop more of our domestic energy supplies? The House All of the Above energy plan includes permanent tax breaks for wind and solar power, as well as lifting oil and natural gas exploration bans in the Outer Continental Shelf and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The …
