OH 07: Austria a RepubOILcan Puppet on Energy

As it is on every issue Austria just repeats the RepubOILcan party line on energy. He uses their simplistic do nothing mantra of drill drill drill, which has been proven by every expert won't have any effect on oil prices for many years if ever, and will only serve to pad the the balance sheets of the oil companies.

When it comes to real solutions however Austria's record is even worse.

As a State Senator he voted to raise the gas tax.

He voted against investment in ethanol and biofuels which would have brought jobs and helped farmers in Ohio.

He voted against requiring a portion of the state governments electricity use come from renewable resources.

He even voted against increasing energy efficiency in state buildings.

In short Austria's plan is pad the oil companies prices and do nothing about gas prices for you and me.

Sharen Neuhardt on the other hand has a real plan.

She will work to:
Create 5 million new green jobs by investing $150 billion in green technology over the next 10 years.

Reduce our dependence on foreign oil by saving in the next 10 years more oil than we currently import from OPEC countries.

Place 1 million American-made, plug-in hybrid cars on our country’s highways by 2015.

Mandate 10 percent of our nation’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012 with an increase to 25 percent by 2025.

Once again the choice is clear, RepubOILcan slogans vs real solutions.

House RepubOILcans say no to lower oil prices

Today the House considered a measure HR6515 that would require the oil companies that currently hold leases to drill on federal lands to begin drilling or lose their leases. In addition it required the Buearu of Land Management to actively pursue new leases in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. This bill also had provisions to assist in the production by adding pipelines. It also required that the oil that is produced in these lands be kept in the United States not sold overseas as is being done currently with Alaskan oil.

This was a real solution that would turn idle assets sitting on the Oil companies spreadsheets into oil producing assets. It would have kept domestic oil home, it would have had a positive impact on oil supplies in a relatively short time as the oil is already known to exist on these lands, leases exist and in some cases test wells have already been drilled.

This bill failed as the vast majority of RepubOILcans showed their true motives by voting against this bill. It is now clear their mantra of "drill drill drill" means, give more assets to the oil companies but not actually produce any oil.

68 million acres are available for drilling now and the oil companies are choosing not to drill. This bill would have had much faster results in forcing drilling where oil is already known to exist, rather then sepculating in unknown areas as the RepOILcans want.

Once again the Democrats in Congress offered real solutions that will effect all Americans, while the RepubOILcans want gimmicks that only seek to increase the wealth of the Oil men.

Space's 3 Pronged Approach on Oil Prices.

I listened in on a conference call town meeting last night on oil prices with Congressman Zack Space of the Ohio 18th.

He detailed a 3 pronged approach to expand domestic supply, reduce demand and to rectify problems in the oil market such as speculation, the lowering dollar and price gauging.

There were over 12,000 participants in this call and though various issues were discussed the primary focus was gas prices.

On the subject of drilling, Space commented that additional drilling must be part of it but it must be teamed with conservation and finding additional sources of energy. Space said, "Anyone that suggests all we do is drill and our problems just go away is misguided."

Other comments related to oil prices included a need for international leadership as the problem is a world wide issue that is effected by many factors outside the United States, as well as it will require bi partisan cooperation in this country.

Space also discussed a proposal for a rural commuters tax credit that would assist those living in the rural communities of places like eastern Ohio that have to commute 30 miles or more to their jobs.

There was discussion on the stress on food banks and Space mentioned that he as sought to increase funding for those organizations.

On other issues Space discussed the Renew Ohio project that strives to make Ohio part of the changes in industries and the economy rather then victims of it, by promoting job growth in technology and environmental and alternative energy.

There was also a question on the 2nd amendment. Space made it clear that he was a member of the NRA he supported the recent Supreme Court decision on the Washington DC gun ban. He stated that he felt gun ownership was a basic right and part of our culture and that law abiding citizens should not be restricted from owning guns. He said,"I am an advocate for rights of gun owners and will do so as long as I am here."

8 years divided by 2 oil men = $4 gas

This was the chart shown on the Senate floor this afternoon by Senator Barbara Boxer. While George W. Bush and the Repuboilcans repeat the mantra "drill drill drill" the Democrats in Congress are proposing real solutions to the oil prices that are bringing this nation to its knees.

McCain proposes fake solutions along with George W that will do one thing increase the assets of the oil companies. It will not have any effect on the amount of domestic oil on the market or the cost of gas at the pump. The fact is the Oil Companies have leases on 68 million acres of oil reserve they can drill now but choose not to. Instead they wish to hold on to these assets and add to them to line their pockets.

Barbara Boxer detailed a number of solutions that can and must be done to actually solve the problem. First "Use it or lose it" If the Oil companies that currently hold the leases to the 68 million acres that can be drilled now choose not to, then they shall lose the leases on that land and it will be given to companies that will drill.

Another point Boxer made was that the oil that is drilled domestically should remain in this country not sold overseas for higher profits as is the case now with much of the oil obtained in Alaska.

She also discussed higher CAFE standards which by bringing them up to 40 mpg which hybrid cars can exceed now, would by itself eliminante the demand for all foriegn oil in this country.

Finally to regulate the oil speculators that are a major cause of the current oil prices that are creating a false value for a barrel of oil that is making the oil men like Bush and Cheney richer and 90% of Americans poorer.

Repubiolcans like to accuse Democrats of wanting to "transfer wealth." The fact is the energy policies of Bush, Cheney, McCain and the repuboilcans are causing the biggest transfer of wealth in human history, from our pockets to theirs, the CEO's of the oil companies and the Oil Sheiks abroad.

It is time for America to wake up, and say no to 4 soon 5 dollar per gallon gas. To say no to wars fought over oil, to say no to record profits for the oil companies and to say NO to false policies like "drill drill drill." Instead we must support the Democrats in the Congress who are looking for real solutions for all Americans not just the oil men.