Bartlett Flip-Flops on Arctic Drilling
Dougherty Calls Action Predictable and Sad
"Roscoe Bartlett says one thing and does another! That's been his record since he went to Washington in 1993. His flip-flop on drilling in the Arctic wildlife reserve is predictable and sad," said 6th District Democratic challenger Jennifer Dougherty. Bartlett announced today his co-sponsorship of new legislation that would allow for oil and natural gas production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "The American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act" (H.R. 6107) was introduced this afternoon by U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Committee, and Rep. Bartlett.
Bartlett claims that the proceeds of the drilling will be invested in energy alternatives, but Dougherty does not think that is the best approach. "We can remove the big tax breaks for oil and gas companies and invest in new technology without drilling in an environmental refuge. Roscoe's approach is wrong on so many fronts. It won't lower the price of gas, it does not improve our energy independence and it is bad for the environment. It is just election-year pandering."
"He knows that drilling in the Arctic will not lower prices at the pump and will have a huge adverse environmental impact. Marylanders get it - the Bush-Cheney energy plan is to let oil and gas companies get richer and Roscoe Bartlett has helped to make that happen."
Dougherty challenges Bartlett's votes in Congress on energy policy and investment in renewable energy sources and better technology. Bartlett is known for lecturing on peak oil, but he has taken no initiatives that benefit consumers in Maryland's 6th District or the nation. He cast the swing vote that gave oil and gas companies the huge tax benefits (2003), he voted against raising efficiency standards for cars and trucks (2001, 2007) and he has consistently voted for less funding for investment in alternative energy options.
"It is the sign of a frightened politician when he flip-flops on an issue that is so important to him. Roscoe must have heard that gas was hitting $ 4.00 per gallon this weekend and wants to show his constituents that he is doing something to ease our pain. The problem remains - we have no national energy policy and we won't until the oil men are out of the White House," said Dougherty.
Dougherty supports investment in technology and the construction of a bio-fuels refinery in Western Maryland that will produced non-corned based ethanol for our cars are trucks. Conservation is an important component of Dougherty's platform and supports the creation of secure federal offsite work facilities and a larger number of authorized employees who can work from federal satellites.
