Monday
Aug042008
GOP throws House party
Monday, August 4, 2008 at 5:02PM
A second day of speeches in the House Chamber continued as GOP members told Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to call for a vote on the American Energy Act, the GOP's "all of the above" energy strategy. Representatives repeatedly said that given the current energy costs faced by Americans, now is not the time for Congress to take a five-week paid vacation. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) said "I don't know how they think in the salons of San Francisco," a reference to Pelosi's district, adding that the people in the coffee shops of Dallas recognize America's energy crisis.
Hensarling, speaking to Capitol tourists seated in the House chamber, asked why Pelosi was unable to find time to debate energy in the past months. He told those assembled that Congress found time to debate National Sanitation Week and other frivolous topics, ridiculing decisions made by Democratic leadership. Hensarling said the people of America deserve a vote and gave Pelosi's Washington office phone number to those in attendance, telling people to call and voice their concern.
In a press statement, Pelosi called Republican actions a “hoax” that does not warrant serious debate. She said Republican proposals give public lands to oil companies and would only reduce prices at the pump by two cents in 10 years. In addition, her statement says that House Republicans have opposed requiring oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of land they already control. She also notes the GOP has blocked efforts to increase fuel efficiency standards, improve mass transit, and release oil from government reserves.
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama both support provisions in the American Energy Act, including offshore drilling. He said one person (Pelosi) should not work against the opinion of a majority of Americans. Kirk referenced challenges previously faced in the House of Representatives including the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, and World War II, saying now is the time for Congress to take initiative and solve America's energy crisis. He said Congress has come to a fork in the road concerning energy policy and, instead of debating which road to take, is refusing to debate a course of action at all.
Hensarling, speaking to Capitol tourists seated in the House chamber, asked why Pelosi was unable to find time to debate energy in the past months. He told those assembled that Congress found time to debate National Sanitation Week and other frivolous topics, ridiculing decisions made by Democratic leadership. Hensarling said the people of America deserve a vote and gave Pelosi's Washington office phone number to those in attendance, telling people to call and voice their concern.
In a press statement, Pelosi called Republican actions a “hoax” that does not warrant serious debate. She said Republican proposals give public lands to oil companies and would only reduce prices at the pump by two cents in 10 years. In addition, her statement says that House Republicans have opposed requiring oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of land they already control. She also notes the GOP has blocked efforts to increase fuel efficiency standards, improve mass transit, and release oil from government reserves.
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama both support provisions in the American Energy Act, including offshore drilling. He said one person (Pelosi) should not work against the opinion of a majority of Americans. Kirk referenced challenges previously faced in the House of Representatives including the Louisiana Purchase, the Civil War, and World War II, saying now is the time for Congress to take initiative and solve America's energy crisis. He said Congress has come to a fork in the road concerning energy policy and, instead of debating which road to take, is refusing to debate a course of action at all.
Congressmen: China Must Reevaluate Climate Change Policy
Just after returning from a trip to China, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) disagree strongly with the Chinese government's current environmental standards and political policies.
The pair made their comments on Monday at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington, D.C.
Larsen said that the trip was focused primarily on the economy and to understand the Chinese government’s response to the recent global recession. He believes that at the United Nations’ Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December, China will try to mandate the compulsory licensing of all intellectual property pertaining to climate change and energy consumption. That would mean that U.S. energy companies must license new alternative energy technologies to all countries.
“If the treaty licenses the theft of U.S. intellectual property across an area that may encompass 15 to 20 percent of the U.S. economy, the effect of the legislation will be to increase energy prices in the United States,” said Kirk. He fears that compulsory licensing of green energy intellectual property will cause further unemployment within the United States due to job loss in that sector.
“It became very clear that the top three priorities domestically [in China] are the same that I have and that Mark (Kirk) has - jobs, jobs, and jobs,” said Larsen.
Kirk said that the Chinese government was most concerned about employing their massive number of unemployed new college graduates, adding that China is investing an enormous amount in commodities: China bought a petroleum reserve and $80 billion in gold. He believes that the only reason they would do so is speculation on U.S. dollar inflation.