Posted on 02/27/2008 12:51:40 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Dems' "Energy" Bill Benefits Hugo Chavez, Does Nothing to Lower Gasoline Prices for Middle Class Families No-Energy Bill Already Under Veto Threat Because of Needless Tax Hikes
Washington, Feb 27 - At a time when Americans face increasing costs of living, Democratic leaders are poised to give middle class families exactly what they don’t need: higher taxes and almost assuredly, even more expensive gasoline. The Democrats’ “no-energy bill” set to be debated on the House floor today would raise taxes on producers of American energy here at home, send good-paying jobs overseas, and further increase our dependence on foreign sources of energy because it doesn’t produce a single watt, barrel, or gallon of new domestic energy.
To make matters even worse, the bill does a favor for Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez by exempting his state-owned oil giant CITGO from the impact of the measure.
That’s right, Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez gets special treatment from House Democratic leaders. While Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) propose higher taxes for middle-class Americans and their families, they are giving one of the world’s most outrageous dictators tax breaks he doesn’t need or deserve.
This is the same dictator who is threatening to cut off Venezuelan energy supplies to the United States… The same dictator who is tight with the Castro regime in Cuba… And the same dictator who has said, “The Soviet Union collapsed. The United States empire is on the way down and it will be finished in the near future, for the good of all mankind.”
House Democratic leaders apparently believe these are reasons to reward Chavez, and today’s “no-energy” bill does just that – all at the expense of American workers and their families. In an op-ed on Townhall.com this morning, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) says the bill is exactly the wrong approach for America’s families:
“Republicans believe a balanced energy plan should boost supplies of American-made energy in all its forms. With 21st century technologies and the strictest standards in the world, we can and must produce more of our own energy right here at home and protect our environment at the same time. We can accomplish both of these important goals, but not by supporting reckless, Big Government tax hikes that jeopardize our energy future and endanger our economy. And not by doing favors for Hugo Chavez.”
In 2006, then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) made this election-year statement: “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices.” More than a year later, gasoline prices have skyrocketed under Democratic control, increasing from a nationwide average of $2.33 per gallon on the day Rep. Pelosi became Speaker to $3.13 per gallon now. Is this the “new direction” that Democrats promised the American people?
I am really regretting putting these “blame America” clowns in office.
I’m not sure I’m buying this. Even Democrats are not that stupid.
Oh, they sure are.
Goverment shouldn’t be “lowering prices”: supply and demand will take care of that. Government should ensure fair competition and the rule of law.Period.
This should be used in Congressional Campaign Ads this fall. We need to replace all the rats and take back the house and senate.
our gov’t (both state and fed) should lower tax on gasoline and kerosene
Sure is hard to make sense of today’s threads, except for those that involve smashing the moon or smashing enemy fortifications or smashing other things.
Apparently John Boehner has not heard of hte Kennedy crime family.
Once again, another liberal entitlement program......
“Goverment shouldn’t be lowering prices”
Sure they should...if it comes from reduced taxes.
Why should the government make a greater profit on the sale of a gallon of gas than the private enterprise?
Am I missing something?
Democrats do not want to lower gasoline prices. Many of them have openly advocated much higher prices in past, more in line with the extremely high prices paid in Europe.
They are on record as having said this. Didn’t anyone believe them?
Far more commonly, they say they want to lower gas prices by doing things that will inherently *raise* gas prices.
The government raises or lowers price when they take actions that affect supply. The US Government has taken overt intentional action to restrict supply. The Democrats, with the help of Senator McCain are directly responsible for the restrictions.
The energy situation should be coequal to the war on terror as a campaign issue because the economic health of the US is vital to our defense. However, since Rino McCain is the defacto campaign leader and he has already gone to the other side on this issue, we are voiceless.
This issue alone highlights the danger of believing McCain would be the stronger defense candidate. We've lost this battle since he went over to the other side a long time ago.
Yoy haven’t seen anything yet. Wait unti Barry Hussein Obama lands in Washington!
Not stupid. Greedy and hateful.
I’d like to know how the bill exempted CITGO.
I would like to see the bill, but there is nothing on the Thomas site that mentions Citgo.
I dunno. This all sounds like propaganda.
Yes, the House bill is stupid since it’s nothing but a tax increase on the most heavily taxed industry in the country.
It certainly won’t create more energy or lower the price of gasoline. Probably the opposite.
But when you’re going to attack it as a handout to Hugo Chavez, I think you’re obligated to actually back that up. And I’ve looked at all the news articles I could find on this, and I’m not seeing it.
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