The Democrats “No Energy” Energy Bill

Yesterday, the ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, Don Young of Alaska (R), addressed the House on the Democrats’ proposed energy bill (see video below). Congressman Young said, “The Democrat Leadership of this body has been asleep at the switch, and the result is an energy train wreck. Is anyone surprised we have record energy prices, record energy imports, and failing economy?”

In a press release received today, Young states that this bill was “conceived in the cocktail parties of San Francisco and Manhattan” and further claims no hearings were held on the bill and democrats are trying to rush the bill through Congress before anyone can discover what the bill really is. Young said that no one knows who the father of the bill is and called it illegitimate.

Aside from the “politics as usual”, Young, having shared with fellow House members that he read all 500 pages of the bill the night before, lays out what he believes this bill will do.

1. Contains massive increases in fees on America’s oil and gas producers – fees that will increase energy prices.

2. Contains a leasing provision that risks shutting down the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas industry.

3. Permanently closes 88 percent of the undiscovered oil resources in the Outer Continental Shelf of the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts.

4. Permanently closes potentially huge oil and gas deposits in Georges Bank at the same time as Canada is thinking of leasing it.

5. Does not permit revenue sharing with States, so States have no incentive to permit energy production.

Young further says the bill completely excludes any drilling in ANWR.

Young blames Congress for allowing the environmentalist for taking over this country’s energy policy beginning back in 1973.

Since 1973, environmental groups have slowly taken over the energy policy of this country. Is anyone surprised we have record energy prices, record energy imports, and failing economy?

On October 1st, the 26-year moratorium this country has faced on drilling for oil in the Outer Continental Shelf will expire. Congressman Young is urging his Congressional peers to do nothing and allow the moratorium to expire.

Polls have indicated that an overwhelming majority of Americans want to see drilling, an expansion of our own energy resources while working toward alternative energy and independence from foreign oil. This bill is the solution proposed by the democrats.

Here you can watch and listen to Congressman Young’s address before the House of Representatives yesterday.

Tom Remington