SPACE UNHAPPY WITH CONGRESS ON ENERGY
| By David Lore, Licking County Pro-Active Citizens - Jul 26th, 2008 at 2:46 pm EDT |
| Also listed in: Appalachian Populists | Licking County Pro-Active Citizens (www.licopac.org) | Ohio 18th Congressional District |
Congress needs to stop playing politics with energy, U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, told Licking County Democrats this morning.
And in saying all energy options should be on the table, Space didn't spare members of his own party from criticism.
"I'm not proud that my party has engaged just as much as have Republicans in political rhetoric on these issues," he said. "The politicians need to be fair and square and honest with the energy problem, and far too many have not been."
Space has introduced legislation to help working families offset gasoline costs through tax credits, and has voted to support legislation requiring oil companies to start exploiting the 68 million acres of onshore and offshore oil leases they have already been granted by the federal government.
In a column on his congressional web site this month, he also endorses various oil conservation measures in the short term and the development of "advanced energy sources" in the long term.
http://space.house.gov/?sectionid=24&parentid=8§iontree=8,24&itemid=465
In his re-election bid, the 18th District congressman has come under heavy attack from Republicans and conservative groups for not supporting approval of new offshore drilling leases and for opposing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
But Space said today that he thinks Congress should put all energy options, including new drilling in Alaska and offshore, "on the table" for study. Drafters of any new national energy plan, however, must also consider the other options, such as stronger energy conservation programs, the development of alternative fuels or tapping into the Strategic Oil Reserve.
OBAMA
Space, who as a superdelegate remained uncommitted during the Democratic primaries, also said he now strongly supports Barack Obama for the nomination in August.
"Barack is the nominee," he said. "If you're a supporter of Hillary Clinton, you need to come over to Barack's side.
"This guy has the ability to change the perception the rest of the world has of this nation," he continued.
America's leadership role in the world has been badly eroded during President Bush's tenure in office, he said.
"Two years ago, I thought it would take decades to restore it. But now I think Barack will restore it the first day he takes office."
"Not only do I feel better about him after talking to him. I feel better about myself."
And in saying all energy options should be on the table, Space didn't spare members of his own party from criticism.
"I'm not proud that my party has engaged just as much as have Republicans in political rhetoric on these issues," he said. "The politicians need to be fair and square and honest with the energy problem, and far too many have not been."
Space has introduced legislation to help working families offset gasoline costs through tax credits, and has voted to support legislation requiring oil companies to start exploiting the 68 million acres of onshore and offshore oil leases they have already been granted by the federal government.
In a column on his congressional web site this month, he also endorses various oil conservation measures in the short term and the development of "advanced energy sources" in the long term.
http://space.house.gov/?sectionid=24&parentid=8§iontree=8,24&itemid=465
In his re-election bid, the 18th District congressman has come under heavy attack from Republicans and conservative groups for not supporting approval of new offshore drilling leases and for opposing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
But Space said today that he thinks Congress should put all energy options, including new drilling in Alaska and offshore, "on the table" for study. Drafters of any new national energy plan, however, must also consider the other options, such as stronger energy conservation programs, the development of alternative fuels or tapping into the Strategic Oil Reserve.
OBAMA
Space, who as a superdelegate remained uncommitted during the Democratic primaries, also said he now strongly supports Barack Obama for the nomination in August.
"Barack is the nominee," he said. "If you're a supporter of Hillary Clinton, you need to come over to Barack's side.
"This guy has the ability to change the perception the rest of the world has of this nation," he continued.
America's leadership role in the world has been badly eroded during President Bush's tenure in office, he said.
"Two years ago, I thought it would take decades to restore it. But now I think Barack will restore it the first day he takes office."
"Not only do I feel better about him after talking to him. I feel better about myself."
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