Coming At US From All Sides
Coming At US From All Sides
‘do nothing’ Congress set to do something maltreat pooch
Over the summer a group of five GOP and five Democratic senators, dubbed the Gang of 10, hammered out a comprehensive energy proposal. And now, after taking withering heat from both left and right, the idea is gaining support. ...expected to come up for a vote in the Senate when Congress returns from the current recess.
..."Both the Left and the Right are quite unhappy with what we came up with,” says Conrad. “It’s kind of sad that offering solutions to a serious challenge facing the country is seen as being disloyal to one’s own party."
Details?
The plan also would require automobiles to be more fuel efficient and would provide research money for improved batteries to move away from petroleum-products in cars: the plan calls for 85 percent of vehicles to run on non-petroleum-based fuel in 20 years.
...promote more renewable energy sources and nuclear energy, as well as carbon capture techniques to reduce greenhouse gas production through tax and other incentives.
...The plan is estimated to cost $85 billion, but would be offset with “loophole closers and other revenues,” including money from the new leases and from closing a oil industry manufacturing tax credit.
[so that wouldn’t cost *me* anything, right?]...open up areas of the eastern Gulf of Mexico as well as areas off the eastern United States. He said the plan calls for a 50-mile buffer zone. Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia could opt in to oil leasing off their shores.
...Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.; Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D; Sens. John Thune, R-S.D.; Ben Nelson, D-Neb.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Mark Pryor, D-Ark.; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.; and Bob Corker, R-Tenn.
The Center for American Progress likes it, which makes me quite skeptical. What about west coast drilling? 50 miles off shore?!? That pretty much explodes the “pristine beaches” argument.
This is one of those danged ‘everybody gets a crumb’ political pacifiers that leaves the market and the citizens holding the bag. Like bringing a slap-fight to a gun battle.
Fire up those faxes and emails!
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