Bad energy policy news, but not unexpected: The House approved a package of energy initiatives yesterday, including measures that would allow oil drilling as close as fifty miles off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and finance the long-term development…

Both of NJ’s senators are liberal Democrats who don’t even bother to send the usual form-letter response when I ask inconvenient questions. In fact, I haven’t had any representation in the Senate since… well, just this side of forever.

Ye gods, I’m disenfranchised!

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding energy and the New Energy Reform Act of 2008 . I appreciate hearing from you. I have also included a myth vs. fact sheet to dispel any inaccurate information.
As I am sure you know, I recently formed a bipartisan energy working group to craft legislation to address our current energy crisis. We came together because we all believe this issue is too important to fall victim to political games. I believe that Congress can not sit idle while Georgia families and businesses continue to suffer as a result of the escalating high cost of energy.
I fully support offshore drilling and believe we must utilize all of our domestic resources. Additional oil exploration and increased refining capacity here in the United States will continue to receive my support. It is important that we utilize the resources here in this country whether that includes oil in Alaska , the Outer Continental Shelf, or any of our oil sands or shales.
On Friday, August 1, 2008, the group unveiled the “New Energy Reform Act of 2008″ (New ERA 2008). This comprehensive bipartisan energy plan focuses on increased domestic production, increased energy efficiency, and improved conservation in order to reduce the price of gas and secure our energy future.
The New Energy Reform Act of 2008 has three main components: first, targeted, responsible domestic production of energy resources ; second, a robust federal commitment to conservation and energy efficiency; and third, an intensive effort to transition America ‘s vehicles to non-petroleum based fuels .
To help meet our energy needs, this bill would increase the amount of federal land that is open to oil and natural gas exploration. This would include opening the eastern Gulf of Mexico for production in a manner that is consistent with national security and our military training that occurs there. It would also allow the States of Georgia, North Carolina , South Carolina , and Virginia to opt in for drilling off their shores, while establishing a 50-mile coastal buffer zone for Florida , Georgia , North Carolina , South Carolina , and Virginia where new oil production is not allowed.
To ease gas prices and protect our environment during the transition, the proposal includes a significant federal commitment to promoting conservation and efficiency. This includes extending renewable energy, carbon mitigation, and energy conservation and efficiency tax incentives, including the production tax credit, through 2012. Furthermore, it would extend and expand the $2,500 tax credit for hybrid electric vehicles. These tax credits will lead Americans to obtain highly fuel efficient vehicles by making them more affordable. These efforts will also provide the stability needed for the renewable energy industry.
The New ERA legislation funds a $20 billion “Apollo Project” like effort to support the goal of transitioning 85% of America ‘s new motor vehicles to non- petroleum-based fuels within 20 years. This will include $7.5 billion for the research and development of advanced batteries and other major technological barriers to alternative fuel vehicles. Another $7.5 billion will help U.S. automakers and parts makers re-tool and re-equip to become the world leader in making alternative fuel vehicles. Reaching this goal will not only allow the United States to be free from our dependence on foreign oil, it will benefit our economy by energizing our domestic auto manufacturers.
I will continue to work to address this issue. If we put as much effort into finding a solution to the energy crisis as we do in blaming one political party or another, we can solve this problem.
I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to address this critical issue. As the Senate moves forward, I will review energy legislation in accordance with these principles, and I will keep your comments in mind.
If you would like to receive timely email alerts regarding the latest congressional actions and my weekly e-newsletter, please sign up via my web site at: http://www.chambliss.senate.gov . Please let me know whenever I may be of assistance.

And this file was attached

1. Let’s require all Members of Congress to live only where drilling is allowed!!!

2. And let’s also restrict the scope of all Federal laws and regulations (on all subjects) so they are effective only in areas where drilling is allowed: they would be completely void elsewhere.

Freaking Idiots.

Now might be a good time for Mac to flip on ANWR. Just as the Dems think they have us with “They won’t take YES for an answer” we could tighten the screws with “DRILL ANWR! DRILL NOW!”

Tony737 on September 17, 2008 at 2:40 PM

From Sarah’s lips to John’s ears.

Gang of 10/16/20 breaking up?
Let your Senators know that you want real increases in domestic supply, not false-front legislation designed only to rescue Democrats from their own political failures.

…

RIght now the battle is to see who is actually going to be up for good at around the 30 day mark.

McCain’s inability to interpret economic issues in a way that most people can grasp is pathetic. Just stand there and sound like a populist…..it works better. Absent that, get Romney out there with you talking about reformation of the financial sector and how it can be done without bankrupting the country.

We’re screwed right now folk. No doubt about that. We are screwed.

Dear RNC:

I have been getting RNC messages wondering if I have abandoned the GOP and if I’d be so kind as to send in lots of money to support the GOP effort this election. Let me tell you why I’m dragging my feet.

John McCain can be brilliant at times, and others he drives us nuts. We were tormented with rumors that he would select a liberal as his VP, and I waited until he selected a sane VP choice before I would donate. Selecting Sarah, my first choice, resulted in my sending in a lot more money than I could afford, as did many others.

Now we are hearing that McCain wants to join the treacherous Gang of #? to sign off on the Drilling Figleaf Energy Plan passed by the House, and I, and many others, are waiting with baited breath to see if McCain squanders all the good will and enthusiasm he earned in the last month.

Americans want an “All of the Above” energy plan. We trust the market and American ingenuity. We don’t trust Pelosi and Reid and we know the House bill is nothing but a poison pill designed to create even more obstacles to rapid and viable energy production while giving them cover to lie to the country about their intentions. It is a Poison Fig Leaf.

When McCain stops infuriating and terrifying his base, his donors, his enthusiastic conservative supporters and everday Americans that want the best for our country, and comes out against this destructive farce and backs the complete unlimitied dropping of the drilling moratorium, I will again donate to the RNC. When he comes out with a plan that will fast-track energy projects and eliminate the decades of lawsuits and redtape designed to block energy projects, then I will donate generously. When he calls this bill what it is and offers the only sane alternative, I and many others will again donate more than we can afford. But not until then.

I eagerly await Senator McCain’s decision.

lorien1973 on September 17, 2008 at 2:40 PM

He IS retarded. He has no core principles whatsoever. He is all over the ideological map.

His staff have been really good the past two months or so; they’d better get Good again–real quick

Has to get through the Senate, before it gets to Bush…. not gonna happen IMO.

Romeo13 on September 17, 2008 at 3:17 PM

Why wouldn’t it pass the Senate? You’re not implying that the Republicans will be obstructionists on an off shore drilling bill are you?

Who is “O” Dumby going to help out?????

The common folk that donated 25,50 or 100 Dollars or the Cal elite that donated 23,000 to his campange??????

Sounds simple for me to answer.

There have been any number of interesting “rumors” out of the McCain camp that have pulled the Obama camp way off balance:

- He’s going to release a big new ad the night of Obama’s speech.
- It’s going to be Romney.
- No, it’s going to be Pawlenty.

I’d guess that this rumor (if it wasn’t just made up by someone) was released to convince the Dems that they could defuse this issue by putting up a bill. Instead, there will be a whole filibuster fight — and who doesn’t enjoy a good filibuster fight — and even more attention will be brought to bear on the fact that the Dems strongly oppose any drilling.

Watch and marvel.

jmarcure on September 17, 2008 at 3:10 PM

Has to get through the Senate, before it gets to Bush…. not gonna happen IMO.

If McCain and the Republicans give in on the drilling issue it’s all over for them. Surely McCain can see that right… right?

From a guy who is surprised by the current Wall Street debacle? LOL!

Weak. Weak. Weak.

I am about ready to run against them both on this one issue.

Elizabetty for Senate!!

…is the idea that the Democrats have an energy policy that makes sense. Via The Weekly Standard, CQ Politics notes that the House has passed a bill that ostensibly allows more offshore drilling. This is something that had been opposed…