June 14, 2005

Statement Opposing the Bush Energy Policy

Arthur Stamoulis, Director of Government Affairs:

"With the high price of gasoline these days, it is truly hard to fathom how the President could propose a multi-billion dollar energy bill that does not improve gas mileage for automobiles.

"Improving gas mileage in cars would save consumers billions of dollars at the pump. It would help to dramatically reduce the pollution that causes global warming. It would strengthen national security by reducing American dependency on unstable dictatorships abroad.

"Rather than improve fuel economy, the President and many in Congress are using the energy crisis as an opportunity to give billions in government handouts to big energy companies. The President's energy plan weakens environmental laws and provides massive taxpayer subsidies to the oil, gas and mining industries. It does next-to-nothing to address growing energy costs, over-dependence on foreign oil and the looming threats posed by global warming.

"This country needs an energy policy to take it into the 21st Century. We need investment in wind and solar energy, hybrid cars, and energy efficiency. Instead, we are offered an energy policy based on 19th Century oil and coal technologies. As the U.S. Senate considers the President's energy package today and throughout the week, Pennsylvania's Senators should understand that we reject this horrendous energy policy and demand a real solution."

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