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GOP rejects Pelosi's energy proposal |
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By Jackie Kucinich
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Posted: 08/16/08 12:27 PM [ET] |
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Republicans lambasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) energy plan Saturday advising her to “get out of the way” if she was not going to accept GOP solutions to the energy crisis.
In her Saturday radio address Pelosi announced that Democrats would consider opening up parts of the outer continental shelf for drilling as a part of a broad new energy plan that will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
The Democratic initiative will also seek to release oil from the 700 million barrel Strategic Petroleum Reserve, require oil companies to pay billions of dollars Democrats believe they owe to invest in clean energy resources, increase the use natural gas and create a federal Renewable Electricity Standard.
Pelosi said Democrats would also seek to investigate the role speculation has played in the rising cost of oil.
“We hope our Republican colleagues will join in a bipartisan effort, not only to increase domestic supply, but also to help consumers and to protect the environment,” she said.
Republicans soundly rejected Pelosi’s proposal – indicating it was too little too late.
“Madame Speaker, we ask you to work with us to help Americans feeling pain at the pump by developing more American energy,” said Republican Study Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas). “If you refuse, we simply ask you get out of the way and allow us to help the people that sent us here.They understand how flawed and out of touch your caucus is on energy issues, and so do we.”
Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) added, ““There is no better, more qualified spokesperson for the Democratic Party’s failed energy policies than Speaker Nancy Pelosi.”
Republicans are in week three of a protest on the House floor that began after Pelosi adjourned Congress for August recess without announcing a plan to deal with the energy crisis. They have called for her to bring Congress back into session. Earlier this week, in an interview on CNN’s “Larry King Live,” she dropped her firm opposition to an offshore drilling vote.
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