Republicans' Phony 'Energy Week' Fizzles

[Robbien]

WASHINGTON, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer
(MD) released the following statement today regarding the three energy bills
considered on the House Floor today and the two energy bills that are expected
to be considered on Wednesday:

"When it comes to the important issue of America's energy needs, House
Republicans seem to suffer from a collective blackout. This nation needs a
comprehensive energy plan that prevents future electricity blackouts like the
one that affected 50 million Americans in the Northeast last summer, prevents
market manipulation that was common practice in the Enron Corporation, and
reduces gasoline prices for motorists and small businesses.
"Yet, the Republican leadership is forcing another vote on legislation
(the "Energy Policy Act," H.R. 4503) that weakens environmental protections,
repeals consumer protections, provides unnecessary liability protections, and
provides nearly $30 billion in tax breaks for energy producers. This
legislation passed the House last year, but has run into a bipartisan wall of
opposition in the Senate. It is going nowhere fast. House Republican leaders
know that, but they continue to pretend to legislate in an effort to score
political points.
"Make no mistake, this Republican legislation does nothing to deal with
current gasoline prices, natural gas supply problems, investment in
electricity infrastructure or independence from foreign oil. In sharp
contrast, Democrats attempted to offer a substitute to H.R. 4503 that
addresses the three most pressing energy problems facing our nation -- fraud
in electricity markets, blackouts and high gasoline prices.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06-15-2004/0002193968&EDATE=

[opihimoimoi]

1. When it comes to this very crucial subject, the Pubs are all talk, no walk

What can I say? Its window dressing. In Hawaii, we call it "Shibai"

Or, BS

[Massacure]

2. I hope the senate shoots it down

And rubs the remaints all over Bush & Co.

[Robbien]

4. I wish the media would call the Republicans on this nonsense

The mainstream media should say flat out this is a huge pork bill and shout from the rooftops each and every day that this bill is just another way the public will be fleeced.

[0rganism]

3. How about we have an Enron week instead?

What with the new Enron tapes coming out and Chief Financial Vampire Skilling awarded interest from his seized assets, I hereby declare this to be Enron Week! Burn, baby, burn!

[kysrsoze]

5. Is this the week where we're supposed to use as much energy as possible?

Maybe they'll give a special tax cut for anyone who buys 3 ton-plus SUV that week.

[hatrack]

6. No, it's the week Chimpy bitches about the stalled energy bill

Well gee, George, if your Republican administration can't muster enough flex-power enough to move this turd of a package through the Republican-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate, looks like a certain lack of sphincter tone to me.

[Lefty48197]

7. Here's the Republican energy policy:

Bush & Cheney hold our wallets, and our front doors open, while the energy industry is allowed to take as much as they can carry.