Dean Asks Congress To Reject Energy Bill, Crony Capitalism; Calls for ‘New

[Rose Siding]

Dean Asks Congress To Reject Energy Bill, Crony Capitalism; Calls for ‘New Energy Economy’

DES MOINES--Today, the House and Senate conference committee on the energy bill will release its conference report. Preliminary reports indicate that it will include $16 billion in subsidies and tax breaks for the fossil fuel and nuclear industries while it contains little meaningful support for renewable energy. The bill does contain enumerable goodies for the corporate allies of the Bush administration and the GOP leadership including:

Providing Halliburton with an exemption from certain parts of the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
$800 million in subsidies and immunity from lawsuits for producers of the polluting gasoline additive MTBE. The largest MTBE provider, Lyondell, is located in Tom DeLay’s home district.
A reversal of long-standing US policy against the reprocessing of nuclear waste, thus creating an unnecessary new proliferation threat.
"The energy bill released by the Republican leadership today is a perfect example of crony capitalism at its worst – and is just another example of how our political system serves the interests of those who fund the election process. This bill is based on a policy written in the Vice President's office by corporate lobbyists, contributors and insiders like Ken Lay. There is little wonder that the biggest winners in this bill are companies like Halliburton. The biggest losers are the American people," said Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

"Our over-dependence on fossil fuels means that we continue to pump global warming causing greenhouse gasses into the air at an alarming rate; it means that we are letting other countries take the lead in renewable energy—an industry that will create millions of high paying jobs in the 21st century; most important, it means our oil money will continue to fund hatred and terror in the Middle East. We should be enriching the American heartland, not corporate interests and Saudi princes.

"President Bush's allies rejected meaningful support for renewable energy, despite urging by a bipartisan group of 53 Senators. Apparently, if it’s not a priority for Enron, Halliburton or Lyondell, it’s not a priority for George Bush, Dick Cheney or Tom DeLay. Incredibly, Republicans have designated nuclear energy as an “alternative” energy source, on par with wind and solar power, and lavished it with tax incentives to renew construction of nuclear plants. This will mean more nuclear waste that will have to be stored in our communities or transported through our towns.

"As president I will ensure that our energy policy, and our democracy as a whole, will put the interests of the American people before the interests of corporate contributors, and I will ensure our nation builds a new energy economy based on efficiency and new energy sources like solar, wind, and hydrogen. Congress should reject the energy bill and start over when we have a President who is serious about solving our nation’s energy problems."

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10534&JServSessionIdr003=7txz1virq1.app194a&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=1301

[JNelson6563]

1. Give 'em hell Howard!!

Somebody's got to do it!!

Julie

[truthisfreedom]

2. there must be some mistake! republicans wouldn't sell us out like that!

would they?

[Upfront]

3. Dean Leads Again

Howard Dean tells it like it is, once again. Where are the rest of our candidates?

[truthisfreedom]

4. heck, where's any democrats at all? have you heard even a peep about

this from any elected democrats?

[Upfront]

5. Truth You Make

a good point. Getting there spending money also? Me thinks, it is so.

[joeybee12]

6. The Dems need to filibuster every Goddamn bill the repukes

try to ram through. Forget this bi-partisanship crap, the bills they write and promote are all geared towards continuing their disgsutimg trend of crony capitalism and corporate welfare.

Block, block, block!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[goforit]

18. You tell them Joeybee12!!!.........."block block block!!!!"

:bounce:

[jpgray]

7. Note this link is from Dean's site

Doubtless, if you went to every Senator's home page, you would find some who have made statements against the energy bill--A few in the Democratic leadership I know have already made some speeches against it.

The hard thing is to get media coverage. Those who are fans of Dean can go to his site and see his releases, but if it doesn't get mainstream coverage, most people don't see it. So, probably a good many Democrats in the senate and house have protested this--you just aren't likely to hear about it.

So yeah, it's good to say something that's right, but it's better to be in a position to do something about it. Let's hope the Dems stand firm on this one.

[goforit]

17. There waving their white flags from under their rocks!!!......BUT....

You can't hide from the people!

Their gonna find those whimps!!!!

[cthrumatrix]

19. because both parties are bought and paid for...perfect example

[Mr_Bleedingheart]

9. oh yes they would

This deal was constructed by Cheney to Congressional Republicans, so from one secret meeting to the next. The title of the article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette from the New York Times is
"GOP says it reached energy bill consensus". Wow!!! big deal. They agree amongst themselves, which that isn't too hard, they are all taught to think alike and don't break from the ranks.

Daschle is of course pushing for ethanol, I don’t know how much he is going to protest if it gets his area more corn production.

Overall another republican give away, I think it is probably an exact match. Give us money and we will give it right back.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi Mr_Bleedingheart!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[bleedingheart]

8. Consumers have to help drive a progressive energy bill

we have to demand better fuel economy (it helps us save money), we have to buy more efficient furnaces, water heaters, and we need to consider solar power when applicable. Mr_Bleedingheart and I have a solar powered fan in our attic....

Personally this GOP bill is a crock of shit...nothing but a payback to GOPer donors..

[sendero]

10. It is apalling...

... that the repugs would come up with a bill like this. I hope against hope the Dems do whatever it takes to sink this steaming pile of unbelievable pork.

[aquart]

11. If I didn't agree with him on another thing, I'd vote for him on this.

It is exactly how I feel about it.

[quaker bill]

12. This sounds far too substantive

for a man who is making his campaign out of anger. Could it be that some underestimate the man perhaps?

[salin]

13. salin's plug: Fillibuster, fillibuster, fillibuster!!!!!!

Sorry this post isn't about Dean (good on him on this - would hope the other candidates are doing the same).

But the REAL action on this is in the senate's hand. WE need to let our Democratic senators (and perhaps some possibly responsive moderate repubs) that this bill MUST DIE! There is no turning back the clock on the damage that this bill would create - for consumers, for the environment, for citizen/taxpayers (more taxes at the local/state level for even fewer services as the deficit grows followed by cuts to social services at the fed level.)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. The MTBE clause may very well lead to some Republicans helping to kill

kill this bill. They will have to go back to their constituents and explain how they are voting on a bill that pushes the costs of MTBE cleanup back on their state's budget.

One can hope.

[Jacobin]

16. Dean speaking for me again

Go Dean

[Guaranteed]

20. This should be the centerpiece of our candidate's platform. nt

[xxqqqzme]

21. one of the 3 'E's

economy, education and energy. A campaign built around these is a winner.