When in the majority, the Republican Party worked hard in Congress to weaken America, to undermine our fiscal strength, to weaken the military, to hurt the economy.... They worked hard at this and succeeded. Now that they are in the minority, they clearly do not consider the job done. They are standing forthrightly in the way of moving forward toward a more sensible energy path, something that could help to Energize America toward a prosperous, climate friendly future.
Sadly, yet again ..., we must ask: Is the Democratic Majority surrendering the battle to that reckless minority too quickly?
Surrendering on the Energy Bill?
The Energy Bill has seemed a strong effort in the face of political realities, even if inadequate in face of the reality what require, but it fell viction to a reckless minority who are wedded to a fossil-fuel, polluting path that further weakens America with each passing day. They will feed lines about how this will hurt the economy. These are, well, to put it as politely as possible, truthiness bordering on lies. Green Energy solutions create jobs. They improve the economy through improved health care and productivity. They improve the economy through reducing the balance of trade deficit. They can hurt, however, Exxon-Mobil executives' bonuses, however.
Senator Reid should not be so quick to cave in front of 40 Senators willing to put their fossil-fuel friends before the nation. 40 Senators willing to put their fossil fuel friends before the future of all humanity.
Senator Reid: KEEP THE SENATE OPEN for the weekend. Make the 40 read the phone book in support of tax subsidies for the oil and gas companies. Make this "CALLOUS MINORITY" explain themselves to the nation.
Ask yourself the question:
How many Americans would be supportive of a filibuster supporting tax subsidies for Exxon-Mobil?
Two Environmental Organization Statements
Today's situation is an uncomfortable one, something that generates great frustration. Below, with some commentary, are statements from the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth:
Sierra Club:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 13 December 2007</font>
Callous Minority Blocks Energy Bill in Senate
"Callous Minority ..." Callous in the face of fiscal sense. Callous in the face of Global Warming's threats. Callous in the face of anything except the pocketbooks of the tuxedo-wearing base.
Washington, D.C.--Today, by a bipartisan vote of 59 to 40 on a cloture motion, an irresponsible minority of Senators continued to block progress on a comprehensive energy bill. Majority Leader Reid has pledged to bring back a bill without the clean energy tax provisions later today. He also indicated his desire to bring back legislation to support renewable energy as soon as possible next year.
Do we want that stripped bill to be introduced?
Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director
"It is unacceptable that despite the support of a majority of senators, an irresponsible minority in the Senate has again blocked the energy bill using procedural maneuvers. Make no mistake, this determined minority voted against clean energy, billions in relief at the pump for their constituents, energy independence, and the tens of thousands of jobs that this bill would create. These senators should truly be ashamed of themselves for turning their backs on their constituents and instead siding with polluting special interests.
Ashamed of themselves, indeed ...
"We applaud Majority Leader Reid and the Senate leadership for their continued efforts to find a compromise in order to pass this essential legislation. Unfortunately, an irresponsible minority appears intent on stopping progress on a comprehensive bill that supports renewable energy.
And, well, they have succeeded in stopping, without being forced to lose any sleep defending this in front of the America people, reading telephone books at 3 am.
We will not allow this temporary setback to become a permanent roadblock to renewable energy in this Congress. The American people are clamoring for clean, renewable energy and will continue to work with the leadership in Congress to deliver it to them as soon as possible."
"Clamoring ..." with a passion.
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
Friends of the Earth Action President Brent Blackwelder released the following statement in response to reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to further weaken the energy bill after failing to achieve cloture on an already-weakened version of the bill earlier today:
"It's clear that Democratic capitulation isn't limited to Iraq. When the Republican leadership and the polluter lobby have blocked important legislation, Senate Democrats have been all too willing to move in their direction. The result is that the two most positive provisions of the energy bill--a clean energy mandate and a tax package reining in handouts for fossil fuels and promoting clean energy--are being removed while detrimental provisions, such as a radical five-fold increase in unsustainable biofuel use, remain.
Yes, the most positive (which were, to be honest, less aggressive than physical reality requires) elements have been stripped from this bill.
"This is the wrong approach. Instead of capitulating, the Senate Democrats should show some backbone. If Republicans want to block progress on clean energy and global warming, they should be forced to mount a real filibuster--for weeks if necessary. If President Bush and Republican senators persist in their obstruction, Democrats should pull the energy bill from the floor and make it an issue at the ballot box instead. Let's be clear. What the Republicans are doing here is morally repugnant. They are jeopardizing our children's future in order to help corporate polluters make more money. The American people have signaled that they want a different direction, and Democrats should not yield to this obstruction.
HERE, HERE!!!
Let them filibuster in support of serial polluters, in opposition to a clean energy future.
"The basic truth is that our system of energy production and consumption is wholly unsustainable, and dramatic changes are needed or we risk a systemic collapse. Unfortunately, we are not yet getting the bold leadership from the Senate that is required to bring about these changes."
Unfortunante, indeed.
Is anyone listening?
I (and millions of others) would like a cogent explanation from a member of the Democratic Party leadership as to why it did not make political, ethical, fiscal, etc sense to force the 40 Senators to a real filibuster, staying overnight, to explain to the American public why they were fighting so hard for continued subsidies for Exxon-Mobil executives' bonuses. Why not?
59 Senators voting for cloture.
The issue on the table tax subisidies for oil and gas companies.
With that, Reid couldn't mount the political courage to have the cots taken to the Senate chamber? Doing that this weekend would be an amazing Christmas gift to the nation. This is something the American public would support, despite the $700k+ of fossil fuel ads in The Washington Post this morning saying otherwise.
Senator Reid:
KEEP THE SENATE OPEN for the weekend.
Make the 40 read the phone book in support of tax subsidies for the oil and gas companies.
Make this "CALLOUS MINORITY" explain themselves to the nation.
Reckless Endangerment is a crime ...
We can all help make
America
Energy Smart.
Ask yourself:
Are you doing your part to
ENERGIZE AMERICA?