Minutes after Senate aides briefed reporters on the details of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) energy bill, disappointed interest groups -- both
Minutes after Senate aides briefed reporters on the details of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) energy bill, disappointed interest groups — both from the renewable and oil industry — began picking the legislation apart.
The American Wind Energy Association, the wind industry’s trade group, said it would continue to push for a renewable energy standard in the bill, despite clear statements from Reid and his staff that a bill that included an RES would not pass. Denise Bode, AWEA’s CEO, said in a statement:
“„We have 60 votes for an RES amendment and will continue to push for its consideration in this bill. Senator Brownback’s statements about the RES demonstrate the bipartisan support that exists for such an amendment. Democrats, Republicans, environmental groups, labor unions, and companies across the country all strongly support the RES because it is essential for creating hundreds of thousands of American jobs, reducing carbon emissions, and increasing American independence from foreign oil.
And the American Petroleum Institute, the powerful oil industry trade association, honed in on a provision in the bill that would remove a $75 million cap on liability for economic damages from a spill. (An environmentalist told TWI earlier today that this provision would be the biggest sticking point in the debate on the bill.) From API President Jack Gerard, in a statement:
“„While full details of the Senate bill are not yet available, the liability provision sticks out as a jobs killer. Requiring an unattainable level of insurance coverage for domestic energy producers on the Outer Continental Shelf will force the vast majority of American companies out of U.S. waters, according to insurers. This would cut domestic production, kill American jobs, slow economic growth and cost billions in federal oil and natural gas revenues.
On top of that, Republicans are already touting their alternative energy bill as a more realistic proposal. Robert Dillon, spokesperson for Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), criticized Democrats for painting Republican opposition as an obstacle to a more comprehensive bill.
“„Democrats continue to blame Republicans for “stalling” as the reason why Sen. Reid is unable to bring to the floor a more comprehensive energy bill. But the last time I checked it’s Sen. Reid who sets the agenda for the floor.
“„I would further point out that the bipartisan S.1462 ACELA was reported out of the Energy Committee a year ago. Reid could have taken it up at any time. We’ve been calling throughout the year for it to be considered, but it has been the majority leader who has stalled.
Here’s a copy of the Republican alternative and of a one-page summary.
Rep. Patrick McHenry: Please, Conservatives, Fill Out Your Census Forms!
The conservative congressman from North Carolina, a constant critic of the census -- one of the people who sounded the alarm about politicization when the
Rep. Paulsen allies with medical device industry to relax FDA oversight
Source: Flickr; Republicanconference (www.flickr.com/photos/republicanconference) On the heels of the Minnesota Independent story last week about U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen’s cozy financial relationship with the medical device industry, the New York Times reported Tuesday that some health professionals are alarmed by Paulsen’s push to relax Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight
Rep. Parker Griffith (R-Ala.)
One of the most conservative Democrats in the House -- a freshman who said he couldn’t support Nancy Pelosi again -- is going to switch over to the GOP. Josh
Rep. Paulsen touts balanced budget constitutional amendment
In a post for the conservative blog True North , U.S. Rep
Rep. Paulsen, Karl Rove the latest to get ‘glittered’
Rep. Erik Paulsen and former Bush staffer Karl Rove were both showered with glitter at the Midwest Leadership Conference Friday
Rep. Paul Ryan to deliver SOTU response
Chairman of the House Budget Committee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will deliver the Republican response to the State of the Union Tuesday, according to Mike Allen
Rep. Perlmutter criticizes House measure that would eliminate 800K federal jobs
Congressman Ed Perlmutter today issued a scathing statement criticizing the House of Representatives for passing a spending bill that could put nearly a million federal employees out of work. The Colorado delegation voted strictly on party lines, with all four Republicans voting in favor of the bill and the three Democrats voting in opposition. Perlmutter’s statement: “My number one priority is to get people back to work because that’s the best thing we can do to pay our debt and move forward toward economic stability
Rep. Perlmutter to hold constituent meet-up in grocery store
Colorado Congressman Ed Perlmutter will hold a Government in the Grocery constituent meet-up this evening from 5-7 at the Safeway at 38th and Wadsworth in Wheat Ridge. The address is 3900 Wadsworth. The meeting, where Perlmutter typically sits at a folding table and talks to whomever shows up, is free and open to the public
Rep. Peace, ACLU seek investigation of soldier’s allegations of racial discrimination in Afghanistan
Both Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) and the American Civil Liberties Union agree: There needs to be an investigation into Spc.
School of Hock
A growing number of college grads are defaulting on their student loans as the economy worsens.