Democrats Launch Campaign To Preserve Arctic Refuge

By Antonia Aguilar - University of New Mexico / Talk Radio News Service

Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) marked the 50th anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by launching a nationwide campaign to protect the Alaska based refuge from oil drilling and other industrial developments.

“In wildness is the preservation of the planet,” said Tom Udall. "We need to make sure that we preserve this area. It’s a very very special area.”

Titled “The Arctic is Alive,” the campaign will focus on the natural resources along the coastal plain as well as the native species that inhabit the area.

“The coastal plane of the Arctic refuge is the biological heart of the region and central to the survival of many species,” said Markey. “We would never dam the Grand Canyon, we would never strip mine the Yellow Stone and we should never drill in the Arctic Refuge.”

Mark Udall said he hopes the campaign will sway Congress to list the coastal plain under wilderness protection legislation, which would officially ensure its preservation.

“I think our mission is to not have to come back and celebrate the 100th anniversary... because it’ll just be a given that the wildlife refuge has been permanently protected as wilderness,” said the Colorado senator. "This isn’t just about us, it’s about the generations to follow.”

Peña: Drilling won't reduce energy prices until 2030

“Senator McCain (R-Ariz.) is not going to help solve this energy crisis, because frankly he helped create it”, said Federico Peña, who served as both the Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Energy under President Clinton. Peña spoke on a conference call to discuss McCain’s energy strategy, calling it “more of the same”.

Peña went on to say, “[McCain] blamed our dependence on foreign oil on the inaction of politicians in Washington, but he’s been there for the past 26 years and he did very little.” He also said that McCain has talked endlessly about drilling in the protected parts of our country like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), despite reports from the Bush administration’s energy department that have shown drilling there would only reduce oil costs to Americans by a few cents. In addition, Peña said the energy department estimated that the small decrease in price would not come about at all until the year 2030.

Peña also attacked McCain’s plan for energy independence by saying that any reduction in price caused by increased production from the United States would be met with OPEC nations reducing their levels of production of oil to keep prices high. As such, he advocates investing in renewable sources of energy that are not subject to price fluctuations determined by foreign governments.

Congress passes bill for 'National Plumbing Industry Week', but no energy reform

"Hearing [Nancy Pelosi's] name and 'president' in the same sentence makes me sick!" exclaimed Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) today on the floor of the House of Representatives. He and his fellow Republicans continued their speeches protesting Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) decision to call the Congress into recess.

"This is an ineffective Congress, I'm embarrassed to say", said Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.). He went on to describe legislation passed so far in the 110th Congress, including a bill creating "National Passport Month" and another designating "National Plumbing Industry Week". However, it is common for every session of Congress to pass these pieces of symbolic legislation. He said he advocated a diversified energy solution that utilizes both renewable sources of energy and allowing expanded oil drilling in coastal regions and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). In a recent interview with CNN, Speaker Pelosi said that she would be open to holding a vote on energy reform that would expand drilling.

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) said that during Hurricane Katrina, no oil spills occurred. He went on to say that this is a testament to the safety of these oil rigs for the environment. Pitts also said that if more oil refineries were built within the US, which hasn't happened in over 30 years, hundreds of thousands of new jobs could be created.

Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) said that since the construction of the Alaska Pipeline, the state's caribou population has tripled despite environmental reports warning of harm to the animals. He credits the pipeline with keeping the caribou warm during extremely cold weather, thus contributing to the resurgence of the population.

1.3 million Americans demand congress take action on oil

"Democrats in the House and Senate have stood in the way of more American made energy" said House minority leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). "That's why almost 70% of our oil that we use everyday has to be imported." Boehner and other top Republicans spoke at a press conference today to accept a petition from American Solutions signed by 1.3 million Americans. The petition calls on congress to take action now to lower gas prices.

Boehner went on to say that the amount of oil imported by the United States continues to rise due to Democrats' continued opposition to drilling in ANWR and the outer continental shelf. He also dismissed biofuels and conservation as possible remedies, instead stating that more American made energy, including nuclear power, is a better solution.

House minority whip Roy Blunt (R-MO.) stated that he and his fellow Republicans have asked Democrats to bring legislation to the floor that would provide American solutions to rising oil prices, yet we still see no action. He also pointed out that no other nation in the world possesses deep water oil sources and chooses not to extract them but the United States. He ended by challenging the Democratic leadership from both the House and Senate to respond to the 1.3 million Americans who have signed the petition.

Shades of green: Obama, McCain advisors on energy policy

The energy policies of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) were discussed at a conference hosted by the National Journal. In addition, panelists discussed their views of the political climate for legislative action in the coming congress.

Elgie Holstein, senior adviser to the Obama Campaign on energy, stated that both McCain and Obama have endorsed a cap and trade approach to controlling greenhouse gas emissions, believing it to be the most economically friendly way to meet strict greenhouse gas emissions limitations that the campaign is hoping will become a part of national policy. However, the candidates differ in how aggressive they plan to be. Obama hopes to see a reduction of 80 percent below 1990 levels in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while McCain would aim for a 60 percent reduction. In addition, Obama plans to auction off credits to companies that choose to continue polluting. Money from these auctions would be used to develop clean-energy technologies and underwrite the labor costs of transitioning to this new technology. McCain would not charge for these pollution credits, though would consider following a plan similar to Obama's years from now.

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, domestic policy adviser to the McCain campaign, described McCain's intention of focusing on the vulnerabilities to our economy, environment and national security that our nation's reliance on foreign oil has caused. Holtz-Eakin stated that this reliance puts us at the mercy of leaders who do not share the same values as the United States, including Vladimir Putin and Hugo Chavez. As such, McCain advocates new oil and gas development on US shores, though not in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). He also favors research into new technologies to ease this dependence. Conversely, Obama is opposed to offshore exploration, favoring higher auto emissions standards along with a windfall profits tax on oil companies.

Despite their different policy preferences, Holstein noted that for the first time both Democrats and Republicans have acknowledged that environmental issues can no longer be ignored.