Dems’ Failed Energy Policy: More Solyndras, More Skyrocketing Gas Prices

February 21, 2012

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Lois Capps (CA-24), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Kathy Castor (FL-11), Ben Chandler (KY-06), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-16), John Garamendi (CA-03), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-09), Ron Kind (WI-03), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-16), John Tierney (MA-06), Paul Tonko (NY-21), Niki Tsongas (MA-03), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Chandler’s Failed Energy Policy: More Solyndras, More Skyrocketing Gas Prices
Kentucky Democrat’s Election Year Energy Plan is to Double Down on More Solyndra-Style Stimulus Amidst Soaring Gas Prices

WASHINGTON — Despite the skyrocketing gas prices that are increasingly straining the budgets of middle class families and small businesses, Ben Chandler and his fellow Democrats are doubling down on more wasteful stimulus spending that gave taxpayers failed energy companies like Solyndra instead of lower prices at the gas pump. Chandler and his Washington Democrat colleagues continue to prioritize anti-energy Democrat donors instead of working families struggling with prices at the pump.

“Ben Chandler’s first stimulus squandered taxpayers dollars on failing green energy ventures like Solyndra instead of focusing on an all of the above strategy to lower gas prices and decrease our dependence on foreign oil,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “With hard-working taxpayers are already struggling with skyrocketing prices at the pump, the last thing they need is more of Chandler’s failed energy policy of wasteful stimulus spending fueled by job-killing tax hikes.”

Democrats were more concerned with scoring political points and rewarding donors than achieving success when spending billions in taxpayer money on risky and unproven green energy projects:

“Meant to create jobs and cut reliance on foreign oil, Obama’s green-technology program was infused with politics at every level, The Washington Post found in an analysis of thousands of memos, company records and internal e-mails. Political considerations were raised repeatedly by company investors, Energy Department bureaucrats and White House officials…

“Overall, the Post found that $3.9 billion in federal grants and financing flowed to 21 companies backed by firms with connections to five Obama administration staffers and advisers.” (Joe Stephens and Carol D. Leonnig, “Solyndra: Politics Infused Obama Energy Programs,” The Washington Post, 12/25/11)

Despite Democrats spending billions of taxpayer dollars, gas prices continue to soar to record highs and threaten to severely impact family budgets:

“Americans spent 8.4 percent of their household income on gasoline last year when gas averaged an all-time high of $3.51 a gallon. That’s double the percentage a decade ago. They could pay even more this year, even though demand is the lowest in 11 years as people drive fewer miles in more efficient cars, says Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at OPIS.” (Chris Kahn, “Gas prices are highest ever for this time of year,” Associated Press, 2/18/12)

Ben Chandler’s green energy stimulus experiment has failed, and yet he and his fellow Democrats in Washington want to double down and give American taxpayers even more Solyndras. Since soaring gas prices are squeezing middle-class family budgets, Chandler should finally abandon his failed energy policies that have only made matters worse.

Dems’ Failed Energy Policy: More Solyndras, More Skyrocketing Gas Prices http://ow.ly/9cpym #madeinwdc

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