I'm really beginning to enjoy writing letters to the editor of our local paper. Especially since I'm getting every letter I write published so far (2 for 2). Knock on wood.
Pombo is Chair of the House Natural Resources committee and this district was one of the "Dean Dozen" last year. I think our chances will be even better next year to unseat him.
I thought others might be able to get ideas from it to write their own letter. I think the hypocrisy of voting to drill in the Arctic Refuge while voting down increasing fuel efficiency standards is pretty hypocritical if the goal is to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Here is a link to representatives who voted down raising fuel efficiency standarards...it's pathetic 60 of them are dems, and the ammendment was authored by a Republican.
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll121.xmlHere is the text of my letter:
Dear Editor,
I am a teacher. Today the student council at the school where I work led the school in a flag ceremony in recognition of Earth Day. We teach our children to reduce, reuse, and recycle. We teach that it is patriotic to do so. Yet Richard Pombo, our representative in congress, does not seem to understand our values or our children’s values.
Richard Pombo and the Republican leadership have passed an Energy bill that allows oil drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife refuge. The oil won't be available for a decade and even then at levels that will not significantly affect oil prices or imports. Yet, Pombo and the Republicans argue that even this small amount of oil is more important the environmental consequences. They argue that we must lessen our dependence upon foreign oil, even at the cost of the wildlife refuge.
Yet, if Pombo truly voted for the drilling because he values lessening our country’s dependence on foreign oil, why did not also vote for an amendment sponsored by fellow Republican Sherwood Boehlert of New York which would have reduced oil use by 2 million barrels a day (more oil than could be taken from the refuge by 2020) by simply raising fuel efficiency standards for auto manufacturers? 36 Republicans courageously broke with their party to vote for raising the fuel efficiency standards, but Pombo voted no. The ammendment failed.
Apparently, Pombo is more interested in rewarding big oil companies than he is in lessening our dependence on foreign oil or protecting our most treasured wilderness areas.
That’s a horrible example for our children. It’s also something to remember the next time Pombo claims he is a “moderate Republican.”
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
