Despite Lip Service, Dems’ Actual Record on Energy Leaves American Families Running on Empty

February 29, 2012

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Bruce Braley (IA-01), Ben Chandler (KY-06), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Jim Himes (CT-04), Bill Keating (MA-09), David Loebsack (IA-02), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Betty Sutton (OH-16), John Tierney (MA-06), Niki Tsongas (MA-03), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Despite Lip Service, Loebsack’s Actual Record on Energy Leaves Iowa Families Running on Empty
Iowa Democrat Voted Against Expanding American Energy Production Just Two Weeks Ago as Gas Prices Were Climbing to Their Current Record Highs

WASHINGTON — Dave Loebsack and his fellow Washington Democrats are scrambling to find a coherent energy message in the midst of record high gas prices, but his constituents know the truth about his anti-energy record. In fact, it was just two weeks ago that Loebsack cast an ill-timed vote against expanding domestic energy production, just as gas prices began to spike.

“Despite his lip service now that gas prices are at record highs, Dave Loebsack has a clear record of discouraging badly needed energy independence,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Loebsack’s Democrat leaders in Washington even admit now that they are not focused on easing prices for struggling families and small businesses.”

Loebsack voted against the PIONEER Act (Roll Call #71, 2/16/12), which would have expanded domestic energy production and generated revenue:

“The House on Thursday evening passed a bill that seeks to encourage oil shale development, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and offshore drilling in the Atlantic, Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as force approval of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline.” (Pete Kasperowicz, “House passes GOP energy bill, 237-187,” The Hill‘s Floor Action Blog, 2/16/12)

President Obama’s Secretary of Energy Steven Chu seems unconcerned and admits their energy policies are not supposed to help with gas prices:

“High gasoline prices will make research into such alternatives more urgent, Chu said.

“‘But is the overall goal to get our price’ of gasoline down, asked Nunnelee.

“‘No, the overall goal is to decrease our dependency on oil, to build and strengthen our economy,’ Chu replied.” (Alex Guillen, “Chu: DOE working to wean U.S. off oil, not lower prices,” Politico, 2/28/12)

Despite Lip Service, Dems’ Actual Record on Energy Leaves American Families Running on Empty http://ow.ly/9mETZ #powerfailure

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