John Boehner Website (2008) - "House Democrats Call for Government Takeover of Oil Refineries"

[TomCADem]

I guess there are no atheists in fox holes, and no libertarians during environmental disasters, but here is Boehner characterizing efforts to regulate the oil industry as a government takeover. Will the media question Republicans about this former opposition to regulation? No.

http://republicanleader.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=94646

Washington, Jun 18, 2008 - Two weeks ago, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) shocked many observers when she admitted to oil company executives during a House committee hearing, “This liberal will be all about socializing, uh, uh . . . would be about . . . basically taking over and the government running all of your companies.”

Most of those watching that hearing simply assumed Rep. Waters’ wild threat was just another extreme idea from someone on the far-left fringe of the Democratic Party. But today, a leading energy voice for House Democrats proved that her dream of nationalizing the oil industry isn’t as far-fetched as some may believe. Rather, it just may be the House Democrats’ worst kept secret.

In front of a sea of news cameras at a press conference earlier today, when senior House Democrats discussed the ongoing energy crisis that has spun out of control on their watch, Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) dropped this bombshell as he stood next to House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL): He proposed a Washington takeover of the entire oil industry!

* * *
Rep. Hinchey is not unfamiliar with energy policy. Rather, he is a leader on the issue for House Democrats and was chosen by Democratic leaders to appear at today’s press conference because of his energy expertise. After all, he serves on the powerful Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which controls federal spending on many energy-related matters, and the Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over energy and environmental matters.

After today’s shocking display, the American people are wondering: what other House Democratic leaders support Washington bureaucrats taking over our nation’s oil refineries?

Does Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) support it?

Does Majority Leader Hoyer (D-MD)?

Does Democratic Caucus Chairman Emanuel support it?

While the Democratic leadership team is answering these questions, House Republicans will continue to push for their “all of the above” energy plan that harnesses new technologies, encourages more efficiency and conservation, and increases the production of American energy in an environmentally-safe way. A key element of the GOP plan is a discharge petition filed today by Rep. Phil English (R-PA) to force Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer to schedule a vote on Rep. Joe Pitts’ (R-PA) Expand American Refining Capacity Act (H.R. 2279). The bill would allow the President to recommend closed military bases suitable for new refinery construction.

Instead of talking about a federal takeover of an industry hundreds of millions of Americans depend on each and every day, isn’t it time for the Democratic Majority to take a few steps back from the radical left fringe and schedule the House GOP’s comprehensive energy plan for an up-or-down vote on the House floor?

[socialist_n_TN]

1. If ONLY this were true

I'd be ONE happy camper.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

2. Boehner's a boner

House Republicans will continue to push for their “all of the above” energy plan that harnesses new technologies, encourages more efficiency and conservation, and increases the production of American energy in an environmentally-safe way.

Care to reconsider, Boner?

[Scuba]

3. Nationalize the oil industry....

...use future profits to clean up this mess and compensate the victims.

After all, it is OUR oil.

[aquart]

4. And energy is too vital to national security to be left in private, greedy hands.

[socialist_n_TN]

5. If they're too big to fail

they're just the right size to nationalize!

[opihimoimoi]

6. Yup...we should try it...after asll. look what has happened when its not

The need for greed has resulted in Speed

fast cost cutting drillin made it high odds for spillin

[obxhead]

7. More importantly use the profits to begin a new Apollo program

to get us off fossil fuels once and for all. For the immediate cleanup needs we should be seizing all of BP's assets now to assure they make good on the bill for cleanup and restoration.