Questions of the Day for John McCain
May 12, 2008

1. John McCain has demonstrated a pattern of putting politics ahead of his principles. Why does he expect voters to trust him to change President Bush's failed energy policy when the lobbyists running his campaign have earned $13.1 million dollars lobbying for oil companies?

2. Which is more important to John McCain: his promise to appoint more judges who will gut environmental regulations or the climate change policies he is outlining today? If protecting the environment is a priority for McCain, why did he vote for every single one of President Bush's judicial picks?

3. Does John McCain agree with House GOP Whip Roy Blunt's statement that John McCain would offer a third Bush term on economic issues and that "there is nothing wrong with that?"

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mike McIntyre pledged to continue his work in Congress to protect the environment, and spur a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous economy for the American people as our nation celebrates Earth Day.

“We have a solemn responsibility to protect our planet and ensure we all have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink,” said McIntyre.

Elizabeth Dole cast the deciding vote this week against an energy reform bill that would roll back tax breaks for Big Oil to fund clean, alternative energy and increase our energy independence.

Dole, who has taken over $216,000 from the oil and gas industries, opposed the bill that would raise vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, mandate the production of more energy efficient appliances, and institute incentives for the development, production and purchase of hybrid vehicles.

Last week, Dole was part of a coalition of senators who blocked consideration of the bill, and while many reconsidered and voted for the bill today, Dole remained stubbornly opposed. The bill failed by just one vote, a ballot that could have been cast by Elizabeth Dole.

By Dina Cappiello, CQ Staff

When it comes to making the U.S. energy independent, lawmakers seem to have oil — and only oil — on the brain.

Both the House and Senate versions of the energy bill, which is now the subject of intensifying negotiations, are aimed at reducing imports, either by boosting fuel economy or promoting alternative fuels. When Speaker Nancy Pelosi , a California Democrat, assembled the House Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming this year, she charged it with “restoring our freedom from overreliance on foreign oil.”

But as congressional leaders seek to reduce costly oil imports, they may inadvertently spark increased dependence on foreign supplies of other fuels.

By Dina Cappiello, CQ Staff

Congressional negotiators completed a deal late Nov. 30 that will put a comprehensive energy bill on the fast track this week.

However, the bill could face trouble in the Senate, where a key Republican denounced a major element of the deal.

The legislation, which was the subject of intense negotiations over the Thanksgiving recess, would raise fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks and add billions of gallons of ethanol and other alternative fuels to U.S. gasoline tanks.

“A compromise has been reached on automobile fuel efficiency standards, a key provision of the energy legislation being considered by Congress.... I believe the agreement reached today prescribes standards that are both aggressive and attainable,” House Energy and Commerce Chairman John D. Dingell , D-Mich., said in a statement. Dingell and Speaker Nancy Pelosi had been working out final details of the proposal as the week drew to a close.

Rising gas prices is not just a pocketbook issue. It’s also one of national security.

That’s why North Carolina Democrats joined with veterans last week to encourage Congress to adopt stronger fuel efficiency standards.

And you can join us by signing this petition.

Our military puts itself in harm’s way everyday while safeguarding our access to oil supplies in increasingly unstable regions. Our diplomatic leverage becomes compromised when the wealth we transfer to these regions in oil revenues is used to fund terrorism and support extremist ideologies.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Sign this petition and tell Sen. Dole to choose her constituents over big oil.

By maintaining the fuel economy provision of the Renewable Fuels Act, we will increase the average overall fuel economy to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 and save 1.2 million barrels of oil per day. That’s twice the amount we currently import daily from Iraq.

North Carolina Democrats join veterans today in urging Congress to adopt stronger fuel efficiency standards.

Rising gas prices is not just a pocketbook issue. It’s also one of national security.

Each day our military puts itself in harm’s way while safeguarding our access to oil supplies in increasingly unstable regions. Our diplomatic leverage becomes compromised when the wealth we transfer to these regions is used to fund terrorism and support extremist ideologies.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Maintaining the fuel economy provision of the Renewable Fuels Act will increase the average overall fuel economy to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 and save 1.2 million barrels of oil per day. That’s twice the amount we currently import daily from Iraq.

North Carolina veterans recognize that our dependency on foreign oil compromises our national security. They have therefore signed a letter urging Senator Dole to support these new standards and North Carolina Democrats join them in support of this critical legislation.

John Murawski, News and Observer

North Carolina is set to require electric utilities to embrace energy alternatives to help meet the state's soaring power demand.

Gov. Mike Easley signed the new law Monday afternoon, making North Carolina the first state in the Southeast to require electric utilities to tap renewables and efficiency programs to help meet the state's growing energy demand. Progress Energy and Duke Energy will have to meet 12.5 percent of their retail electricity demand through renewables and efficiency by 2021.

The new policy could help some customers save as much as 15 percent on their electricity bill through conservation programs. Both Progress Energy and Duke Energy are developing conservation programs that could pay financial incentives to customers who invest in energy-efficient appliances, seal leaky air conditioner ducts and take other measures to save energy.

Less than 2 percent of the state's electricity comes from renewables and efficiency programs. The state's first benchmark is a 3 percent minimum by 2012, giving utilities five years to ramp up their efficiency programs and renewable producers to develop production facilities.

House Energy Package Promotes Renewables, Efficiency, & Protects National Security

North Carolina Democrats in are making America energy independent, curbing global warming, and developing America's economy through renewable energy. North Carolina Democrats joined a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives Saturday evening to pass two landmark energy bills.

The bills making up the House Energy Independence Initiative - H.R. 3221, New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act and H.R. 2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 - will make historic investments in biofuels and new energy technologies, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and strengthen research and diplomatic efforts on climate change to protect the planet.

"America must lead the world in the use, development, and production of renewable energies to reduce global warming and end our reliance on foreign oil. Our Nation's energy policy must be focused on securing our long-term energy future and being good stewards of God's creation, not protecting the profits of Big Oil companies," said Rep. Heath Shuler. "These energy bills will strengthen our national security, create jobs, and protect consumers."

By Dan Joling and James Halpin, Associated Press

Federal agents with cameras searched the home of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens amid questions about an oil company official's involvement in a 2000 renovation project that doubled the home's size, law enforcement officials said.

Stevens, 83, is under a federal investigation for his connections to Bill Allen, founder of VECO Corp., an Alaska-based oil field services and engineering company that has reaped tens of millions of dollars in federal contracts.

Allen was convicted earlier this year of bribing state lawmakers. He also oversaw the renovation of Stevens' home in the ski resort community of Girdwood, contractors involved in the work say.

Agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service started their search at the senator's home Monday afternoon, said Dave Heller, FBI assistant special agent. He said he could not comment on the nature of the investigation.