“Innovation, conservation and production,” were the key messages coming from the Republican Study Committee and the Western Caucus as Congressional Republicans unveiled their alternative energy proposal today.
Congressman Tom Price (R-Ga.) said, “Republican are wholly committed to finding positive solution to the challenges we face. Like with the stimulus, like with the budget and now in contrast to the Democrats national energy tax we are here to offer our vision.”
The American Energy and Innovation Act, as the proposal will be labeled, will create jobs and reduce debt according to Republicans. The main aims outlined in this bill are to, “encourage innovation” by creating renewable fuel options and environmental jobs. “Promote conservation” by “providing incentives for easing energy demand and creating a cleaner, more sustainable environment” and “increase production” by making use of all available technology and resources.
Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) said there were now “two roads” Americans could chose to tackle energy needs. “The Democrat road is saying it can’t work we are not even going to it, our road is saying we have the ideas now is the time to do it, said Bishop.
Adding that “The Democrats have already given us an option on energy issues that will cost individuals up to $3000…the Republican road we want to go down is one that actually grows our energy supply so that no-one is harmed and in fact we have the chance to reduce the cost of energy.”
Bishop compared the two strategies to the movie ‘Back to the Future’ saying, “Remember those sequels to ‘Back to the Future’ where there were the two worlds? Our world is the one where the McFly family is happy, the Democrat version is the one where Biff runs everything.”
Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said the bill would be a “common sense act that is going to use our natural resources and our advanced technology to meet our energy needs and most importantly help our economy grow.”
In closing, Congressman John Fleming (R-La.) added, our vision “creates a vision for jobs, more jobs, not the so called paper mache jobs the green jobs, but real jobs created by industry.”
At a press conference today the Republican Study Committee and Western Caucus introduced their alternative energy proposal, The American Energy and Innovation Act.
Congressman John Fleming (R-La.) said our vision “creates a vision for jobs, more jobs, not the so called paper mache jobs the green jobs, but real jobs created by industry.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) welcomed the President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai to the U.S. Capitol today for a meeting with the bi-partisan leadership of the House of Representatives.
Speaker Pelosi said: “The relationship between the United States and Afghanistan began as one of importance to our country and it continues to be so.”
The President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai arrives at the U.S. Capitol for a meeting with the bi-partisan leadership of the House of Representatives.
President Karzai said: “The Afghan people with the journey that they began with the United States after the tragedy of September 11, have really seen that this friendship pays off.”
By Suzia van Swol-University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News Service
About a week after President Obama presented his budget to congress, House Republicans and Democrats continue with aggressive tactics. Republicans say the budget will leave the country with staggering debt through reckless spending.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) called the budget “staggering,” adding that such widespread spending will be put at the expense of future generations of Americans. Boehner’s comments that the country has had to tighten it’s belt everywhere except in Washington echoes sentiments made by critics of the budget presented to Congress by the President.
“I think it is wrong to deal with these challenges by mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren,” Boehner said. The proposed budget backed by Democrats “makes the economy worse and will destroy more American jobs,” will double U.S. debt over the next five years and triple economic debt in ten years, he said.
On Wednesday, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan (R), who is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, introduced a budget solution he says will curb spending, create jobs and leave the U.S. with $3.6 trillion less debt than the Democrats’ proposed budget.
Boehner does not support Democrats plan to raise energy taxes in the middle of a recession and said that it could cost every family as much as $3,100 a year in additional energy costs. “Think of the millions of American jobs that are dependent on a lot of energy use,” said Boehner. When asked if there is the possibility for a compromise, Boehner said “Oh yeah, I’m only for losing one million jobs, or I’m only willing to raise taxes on people $2,000 a family…No there is no compromise!”
In the middle of a recession, Congress cannot “throw a wet blanket on a weak economy, you’ll smother it,” Boehner said.
Toxic Asset Relief Program (TARP), allows the United States Department of the Treasury to purchase or insure up to $700 billion of “troubled” assets. “It’s just out of control,” said Boehner. No one has any idea where the money is going, how much is left, or where it went and the American people have a right to know where this money is going, stated Boehner.
Thousands of Americans lost their jobs in January; responding to questions regarding Congress making sacrifices by perhaps taking a pay cut, Boehner replied only that, “I understand.”
By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
During a a weekly session with reporters, which brought up the discussion of the auto restriction plan and warranties on automobiles, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) says that “all of these actions that get taken are going to have a reaction in the market place,” and he says that he thinks “enough is enough.”
At the Governor Kathleen Sebelius’ nomination hearing for Health Secretary, Senator McCain asked whether she supported a government run health insurance plan, to which Governor Sebelius responded, “If you are talking about insuring all 15 million Americans…if the question is do I support a public option side-by-side with private insurers in a health insurance exchange, yes I do.”
At a House GOP leadership stakeout this morning Republican leader Congressman John Boehner (R-OH), Republican whip Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA), Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) criticized President Obama’s budget proposals prior to his press conference this evening.
They accused the budget of “spending too much, borrow too much and taxing too much.”
At a House GOP leadership stakeout this morning Republican leader Congressman John Boehner (R-OH) said: “The President’s budget spends too much, taxes too much and it borrows too much from our kids and grandkids…if you look at the debt numbers in his budget you will see that over the next six years President Obama will create more debt than his 43 predecessors have in the last 220 years.”
