GOP Offers Energy Bill; Dems Not Included

[Oilwellian]

I think this issue is why the GOP worked so hard to demonize the word "filibuster" for 40 hours this past weekend. This is what they're going to try and bully through next week before the recess begins and we better be on our toes and calling our Dem Senators in support of a filibuster. It's imperative that this Bill not pass or we're screwed. The article gives a good overall description of the screwing.

By Anne Q. Hoy
Washington Bureau

November 15, 2003


Washington -- After months of negotiating behind closed doors, Republicans on Friday produced a sweeping energy bill to boost domestic energy production and make the nation's electric grid more reliable.

"We've succeeded, a most difficult, difficult job," said Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. His chief House counterpart, Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.), cast the legislation as a "jobs bill" that would help boost the economy and stop job losses due to high energy costs.

Final passage of what would be the first broad energy bill in a decade is far from assured with Democrats largely cut out of the talks. Already, several senators and environmental organizations have come out against the bill, and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has vowed to filibuster the measure.

Still, completion of the bill along with legislation to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare are top priorities for the White House and Republicans in Congress. Vice President Dick Cheney and congressional leaders interceded to move the negotiations along.

Schumer's ire is trained on a controversial provision included in the latest version that would give producers of the gasoline additive, methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE, liability protection. It would not ban the use of the additive until 2015.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usener1115,0,7221892.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-headlines

[Don_G]

1. Other Sources Mention

That the Dems have just 48 hours to look at the 1700 pages of the bill.

Isn't it nice to have a secret government keeping their largest contributors fat and happy at the expense of everything and everyone else?

[aquart]

2. I know I will never see that treasonous party outlawed.

But they have no concept of democracy and actively work to destroy it.

[Oilwellian]

3. Indeed

You can be assured that the GOP is going to be screaming partisan politics and using the 40 hour circus as an example of the Democrats willingness to obstruct. They'll scream the Democrats will be limiting their ability to create jobs with this Energy Bill (huge eyeroll) and probably call this a "constitutional crisis." I don't think we've seen anything yet. The fireworks are about to begin.

On Edit: Public Citizen did a great write up of the issues involved for those of you who'd like to educate yourself further on this farce of a Bill. I highly recommend everyone do this and become active against it passing.

Nov. 14 - Appalling new energy measure is a travesty for consumers and environment

Today’s deal on energy legislation is an appalling abomination, written by a few Republicans working with energy industry executives behind closed doors.

The undemocratic process in which this energy bill was crafted does not benefit consumers or the environment; in fact, both are likely to become the victims of an energy plan that will reward corporate polluters at taxpayer expense.

To read Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook's entire statement, click here.
http://www.citizen.org/hot_issues/issue.cfm?ID=678

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. If the media helps spread the word that this Energy policy was

written by the same party that supported ENRON, I think the bill will never pass.

[Oilwellian]

8. Indeed

Cheney is still refusing the court order to turn over the energy papers that would reveal Ken Lay's heavy hand in drawing up our future energy policies. I hope the Dems will use their filibuster power to expose all of their dirty plans. Any policy created behind closed doors and involving only one party, does NOT have Americans best interest in mind.

[UpInArms]

4. ABC Evening News

made mention of the fact that this bill was crafted entirely by the GOP and that the Dems had not even been allowed to see it.

The strong arm heavy handed attacks upon this country by the re:puke: party is thoroughly disgusting.

[salin]

5. I am glad that ABC mentioned this - the networks are watched by far more

than cable news. Lets hope that more covered this part of the story.

We need to support the democrats in a fillibuster of this bill. It is awful - and can not be easily reversed by a win next November. We will end up paying far more in rates over the years, some of us will be subject to 'taking' of land by government - to benefit companies - for more power lines and under ground delivery of energy. More public lands will be open to energy companies (bad) with no fair compensation to tax payers (if they HAVE to use our lands - we shouldn't SUBSIDIZE their profits - WE should benefit). Little investment will go into non-oil/gas energy R&D (which is where we need to go for long term sustainability). BUT tons of tax dollars will go towards tax breaks to energy companies (meaning what we pay has to be stretched further - and what less is collected at the fed level and distributed to states and cities - will result (again!) in higher state and local taxes. We will be paying five times over for this with little/no benefit. And we will be continuing down a path towards global warming and depletion of needed resources.

This bill is as corrupt and craven with greed as can be. How can the fundieright think that the people perpetrating this are "Good Christians"?

[markus]

6. I think the Dems need to launch into them on "secret legislation"

They need to give the GOP a "lesson in Democracy", and couch it in those terms.

No more secret legislation drafted solely by Republicans. A fillibuster is in order, as they have have tossed in enough candy to make energy producer state Dems tempted.

If Tauzin helped write it, you can be sure the Breaux and Landrieu will have a hard time voting against it. My current residence of North Dakota has oil, coal and wind power. Our large wind tower producer just laid off most of their production staff due to the uncertainly of the wind power tax credit. If there enough goodies for western coal, oil and maybe a crumb for wind power, Conrad and Dorgan will have a hard time voting against it.

We have to make very clear that anyone who supports the One Party Tyranny of the current GOP for short term advantage should be held accountable at this springs conventions.

Are you making plans to attend your local causcuses, especially those of you in primary states? Are you planning on standing as a delegate?