Dems Push Anti-Energy Policies While China Opens its Doors

June 21, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Tim Bishop (NY-01), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Ben Chandler (KY-06), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jerry Costello (IL-12), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Kathy Hochul (NY-26), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Dale Kildee (MI-05), Ron Kind (WI-03), David Loebsack (IA-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Bill Owens (NY-23), Gary Peters (MI-09), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Loebsack Pushes Anti-Energy Policies While China Opens its Doors
Iowa Democrat Opposes American Energy as Rising Gas Prices Make Bad Economy Worse for All

Washington — While Dave Loebsack consistently opposes efforts to encourage American energy production, middle-class families in Iowa and across the country are still feeling the pain at the pump and everywhere else in their daily lives because of high gas prices. Loebsack’s anti-energy policies continue to make a bad economy worse, even though countries like China continue promoting their own domestic energy, which leaves Iowa’s middle-class families behind. Will Loebsack again vote this week to continue crushing American-made energy and jobs as Iowan families and small businesses are smothered by his Democrat policies?

“Dave Loebsack’s policies stifle American jobs and American-made energy, which continues to send ripples across the economy, making life even more difficult for struggling Iowa families and small businesses,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “When Loebsack toes the Democrat party line and opposes American-made energy and jobs, those opportunities simply move to China, increase our dependence on foreign oil, and leave Iowa’s middle-class families behind.”

High gas prices have brought a stifling effect on the entire economy, particularly harming middle-class families who need relief the most:

“As higher gasoline prices weigh on consumer confidence, they also are spurring cost-cutting maneuvers by people for whom driving less often isn’t an option, from piano tuners to home-health-care providers. Some small businesses are adding gasoline surcharges, while others are absorbing the higher costs and making cuts elsewhere.”

“Economists say elevated fuel prices hit hardest on highly leveraged families, who have to juggle big credit-card bills and mortgage payments with buying gas to get to work. As a result, they cut other discretionary spending, which affects confidence. “If they’re not going out and spending on things they like, then they’re not feeling as confident,” said Michael Brown, an economist at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, N.C.”

“In some cases, higher gas prices affect people who don’t drive. The Meals on Wheels program in Canton, Ohio, which serves 2,000 seniors a day, lost 12 volunteers two months ago when gas prices shot up. Some seniors get one meal a day instead of two, according to Teresa Barry, who runs the program.” (Kris Maher, “Gas Prices Drive a Shift,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/18/11)

Meanwhile, domestic energy production thrives in China where even American companies are expanding their operations:

“Chevron Corp. acquired operating interests in three oil-and-gas exploration blocks in the South China Sea, and China’s government has given approval for BP PLC to take a stake in part of the deep-water acreage, Chevron and China’s Cnooc Ltd. said Tuesday.”

“The acquisitions from Devon Energy Corp. underscore how Western energy giants are seeking to stake out new positions in the South China Sea, after largely abandoning the area decades ago when shallower wells turned up dry.” (David Winning, “Chevron, Devon in Deal,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/8/10)

Dave Loebsack has been a stalwart supporter of his Democrat leaders’ efforts to crush American-made energy, resulting in skyrocketing bills for Iowa’s middle-class families. Will Loebsack again vote to continue America’s dependence on foreign oil while foreign countries like China instead bolster their own?

Dems Push Anti-Energy Policies While China Opens its Doors http://ow.ly/5mZfg #madeinwdc

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