Michele Bachmann Watch, 7/10/08

[marmar]

from the Dump Michele Bachmann blog:



Bachmann: It's an emergency! Cut the red tape, so my oil money guys can drill in ANWR!


From ECM capitol reporter T.W. Budig, today:

Congresswoman Bachmann wants to get federal permits for companies that develop new sources

Wednesday, 09 July 2008
by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter

Sixth Congressional District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, wants to get permits to energy companies quicker to more speedily develop new energy sources.

Bachmann, who favors expanded drilling offshore and tapping into oil reserves beneath the arctic, argues that Congress itself has put the brakes on domestic energy development.

(Yes, we all know how "tough" Congress has been on the oil companies. That's why gas is *only* $4.00 a gallon.)

“Congress has been the problem by slowing down the permitting process,” said Bachmann, speaking at a press conference at Inver Grove Heights City Hall on Monday (July 7).

Under her proposed Emergency Energy Cut-the-Red-Tape Now Act legislation federal officials would be allowed to open the Arctic National Wildlife Area Refuge in Alaska, the outer continental shelf, and streamline the refinery application process, explains Bachmann’s office.

Additionally if the price of a barrel of oil hits $100, federal authorities would be required to waive leasing and permitting regulations.

(What she's doing is trying to conflate two issues. She's trying to get the ANWR drilling throught (big favor for the big energy special interests) by combining that issue, with the issue of "federal red tape"--the fact that the government must issue permits to the oil lobby to drill. The irony is, she might actually get some action on increasing the flow of permits, if she didn't tie it to the *very* controversial issue of opening up ANWR for drilling.

I suspect she knows that she won't be the legislator who finally gets action on either issue--she's too junior, a backbencher in the party out of power. So it doesn't cost her anything to call for action on both issues. Even if nothing happens on either, she lets the oil companies know that she's pimping for them--and those checks to her keep coming in...) ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/2008/07/bachmann-its-emergency-cut-red-tape-so.html

[islandmkl]

1. nothing sounds so...oh, Congressional...as an act with the name

"Emergency Energy Cut-the-Red-Tape Now Act"...how did this nimrod forget to use 'Scissors' in the name?

should have been: "Emergency Energy Use-the-Largest-American-made-Scissors to Cut-the-Red-Tape Now Act"...would have made Bachmann look more patriotic..
:patriot:

[KharmaTrain]

2. And There Are Gas Lines Where???

Gotta love Michelle...she's filled the void left by Katherine Harris.

Wanna spin a wingnut's scrambled brain? Ask if there is a "shortage" that is forcing such a rise in prices, where are the gas lines and rationing? Surely if supplies were so tight that the "marketplace" pushes up the price by 50% or more in over a year, that must mean there are shortages...where are they? Then stand back and watch him/her spin into pancakes.

[peacetalksforall]

3. The Right Wing Party uses Minnesota Republicans. Makes them look foolish.

[DCKit]

4. "...she might actually get some action..., if she didn't tie it...:

It's never been about the permitting process, but about getting all the remaining, available public land under lease so Big Oil can control the entire domestic supply without competition.

None of us is naive enough to believe that, now that they've got a taste for $10+ billion per quarter profits, they don't want double or triple that. If they get their way, we will be paying $8-$12/gallon.

If they're not going to use the leases they already have on 26 million acres of public land, those leases should be handed off to anyone who will develop them.

[paparush]

5. Gods, I heard Romney on CNN yesterday spouting BS about the cost of gas

(paraphrasing Mitt) "Global supply pressures are driving up the cost of gasoline and only JOHN MCCAIN has a plan to stop this trend."

The info-babe just nodded and drooled.

I was sitting in a doctor's waiting room and I said out loud "Where are the gas lines?"
Several people around me shifted uncomfortably and gave me the "STFU weirdo" look.