GOP and White House Threaten to Block Energy Bill

Published on December 6, 2007 By COL Gene In Politics

A bill that would provide significant movement to deal with making America more energy independent passed the House. The Senate Republicans threatened a Filibuster and the White House threatened a VETO of this bill. Below is a summary of the provisions of this important legislation:

Highlights of energy legislation in the House.
_ Car Mileage: Requires automakers to increase the fuel economy of cars and small trucks, including SUVs, by 40 percent to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.
_ Renewable motor fuels: Requires a sevenfold increase in the use of ethanol as a motor fuel to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022, with two-thirds to be cellulose ethanol from such feedstock as prairie grass and wood chips. Has tax incentives for renewable fuels plants.
_ Taxes: Includes a $21 billion tax package, including a rollback of $13.5 billion in tax breaks for the five largest oil companies. The revenue is to be used for tax incentives to promote renewable fuels and energy efficiency.
_ Electricity: Requires electric utilities to produce 15 percent of their power from renewable energy such as wind, solar or biomass. Some of the mandate could be satisfied by utilities promoting efficiency or buying renewable energy credits.
_ Energy efficiency: Requires increased energy efficient appliances and improvements in energy efficiency of federal and commercial buildings. Also requires faster approval of federal energy efficiency standards.
_ Hybrid cars: Creates tax incentives to develop plug-in hybrid electric cars and establishes tax credits for buying the vehicles.

WHY is Congress not getting anything done? The GOP and President Bush! No matter what the majority in Congress attempt is either blocked by the GOP Senators or the White House. Time to get ride of the GOP in November 2008!

Comments (Page 4)

COL Gene

on Dec 08, 2007

Reply By: danielostPosted: Friday, December 07, 2007

the democrats aren't taking action, you are merely playing cheerleader to their blatant INACTION.

this would be the same democrats that blocked drilling in alaska and off shore.

We are not talking about drilling in Alaska. The current energy bill is multi faceted and contains most of the actions that are needed to move us toward increased energy and less consumption. The majority have said they do not support drilling in Alaska and the amount of oil does not solve the problem.

Bush and the GOP are also blocking all the spending bills. What they are doing is requiring a super majority to pass anything. That is not the intent of the Constitution. I hope the Democrats retain the GOP tactics in their play book should at some time in the future the GOP take control of Congress. What the GOP is doing is setting the table for a meal they may not like should they regain control of Congress at some time in the future. I hope the democrats use the same tactics against the GOP if they ever regain control of Congress!

COL Gene

on Dec 08, 2007

If Congress wants to decrease our dependence on foreign oil, then we should be using DOMESTIC oil while encourage the production of viable alternatives. Sorry, but wind and solar aren't viable alteratives to oil. There is NO chance of them producing enough to ever keep up.

The solution is a combination of alternate energy and more efficient use of oil. That is what this bill does and the is NO VALID reason for the GOP to block it.

danielost

on Dec 08, 2007

We are not talking about drilling in Alaska.

no we are talking about reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

we are talking about why the democrats want to raise taxes.

we are talking about why the democrats are blocking the use of domestic oil so that they can have something to campaign on.

we are talking about why you turn something that is bad against the people who have said it was bad.

danielost

on Dec 08, 2007

That is what this bill does and the is NO VALID reason for the GOP to block it.

i guess you haven't read all of the good reasons why this bill is bad just on this thread.

COL Gene

on Dec 08, 2007

Reply By: danielostPosted: Saturday, December 08, 2007

That is what this bill does and the is NO VALID reason for the GOP to block it.

i guess you haven't read all of the good reasons why this bill is bad just on this thread.

NO GOOD REASONS HAVE BEEN POSTED> LOOK at the BILL:

_ Renewable motor fuels: Requires a sevenfold increase in the use of ethanol as a motor fuel to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022, with two-thirds to be cellulose ethanol from such feedstock as prairie grass and wood chips. Has tax incentives for renewable fuels plants. This was one of the solutions Bush proposed especially the use of "Prairie Grass" Go back and look as some of his speeches when he told us we were addicted to oil!

Taxes: Includes a $21 billion tax package, including a rollback of $13.5 billion in tax breaks for the five largest oil companies. The revenue is to be used for tax incentives to promote renewable fuels and energy efficiency. This would redirect the money from going into the profits of oil companies to providing tax incentives to encourage renewable fuels and energy efficiency. THAT IS NOT A TAX INCREASE!

Electricity: Requires electric utilities to produce 15 percent of their power from renewable energy such as wind, solar or biomass. Some of the mandate could be satisfied by utilities promoting efficiency or buying renewable energy credits. Every article I have ever read has included these things as part of the solution. These not only would add energy but it would be controlled and owned by us not purchased from foreign countries.

Car Mileage: Requires automakers to increase the fuel economy of cars and small trucks, including SUVs, by 40 percent to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. This would be far mote effective then 100 new drilling sights in Alaska. About 1/2 of the oil we use goes into cars. The poor mileage of SUV's and Trucks is responsible for a great deal of the increased demand for oil in this country. WHY would anyone object to this?

Energy efficiency: Requires increased energy efficient appliances and improvements in energy efficiency of federal and commercial buildings. Also requires faster approval of federal energy efficiency standards. Saving energy is just as effective as locating more oil in Alaska without the environmental dangers.

_ Hybrid cars: Creates tax incentives to develop plug-in hybrid electric cars and establishes tax credits for buying the vehicles. This is one of the MOST important long term solutions to our dependence on foreign oil. As these cars develop, they will become more affordable and any that we make could be sold to other countries to help our trade imbalance.

Finally, passage of this bill does not stop other measures from being adopted to help us become LESS dependent of Foreign Oil!

danielost

on Dec 08, 2007

Renewable motor fuels: Requires a sevenfold increase in the use of ethanol as a motor fuel to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022,

results increase in price of fuel. increase in price of food.

danielost

on Dec 08, 2007

This would redirect the money from going into the profits of oil companies to providing tax incentives to encourage renewable fuels and energy efficiency. THAT IS NOT A TAX INCREASE!

this will result in a price increase for gas.

companies have to make a profit to pay employees, investers, and suppliers.

COL Gene

on Dec 08, 2007

Reply By: danielostPosted: Saturday, December 08, 2007

Renewable motor fuels: Requires a sevenfold increase in the use of ethanol as a motor fuel to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022,

results increase in price of fuel. increase in price of food.

It also calls for the use of grass which is what Bush Proposed. If the use of food caused a problem ALL WE NERED TO DO IS PLANT MORE ACRAGE. WE ARE USING 1/4 OF THE AVAILAVLE ACREAGE. THAT WOULD ALSO HELP THE FARMERS AND REDUCE THE NEED FOR FARM SUBSIDIES. In any event, it is not a reason to oppose the energy bill!

COL Gene

on Dec 08, 2007

Reply By: danielostPosted: Saturday, December 08, 2007

This would redirect the money from going into the profits of oil companies to providing tax incentives to encourage renewable fuels and energy efficiency. THAT IS NOT A TAX INCREASE!

this will result in a price increase for gas. companies have to make a profit to pay employees, investers, and suppliers.

If that happens we pass an excess profits tax and use that money to provide tax credits to low and middle income families that can not afford the current cost of energy! If the oil companies understand that they will not be able to keep higher profits from increasing retail prices, they will end that practice.

Daiwa

on Dec 08, 2007

It also calls for the use of grass which is what Bush Proposed.

Finally, something you & Bush agree on.

COL Gene

on Dec 08, 2007

Reply By: DaiwaPosted: Saturday, December 08, 2007

It also calls for the use of grass which is what Bush Proposed.

Finally, something you & Bush agree on.

I agree but what I do not understand why Bush and the GOP in the Senate oppose a bill that adopts most of the actions that have been suggested to help us become more energy independent! No bill is perfect but this bill contains a number of things that taken together should help solve the problem.

danielost

on Dec 08, 2007

making the price go up even higher. when will you stop making the middle and lower class pay your tax increases.

COL Gene

on Dec 08, 2007

Reply By: danielostPosted: Saturday, December 08, 2007

making the price go up even higher. when will you stop making the middle and lower class pay your tax increases.

As I said, if the OIL companies increase prices you pass en EXCESS PROFITS tax and they will learn they can not increase their retail prices except for increases in oil or their operating expenses. The shift in the tax credits from big oil to the consumer will be far more effective and the excess profits tax would be returned to the consumer in the form of energy credits.

Oil companies are price gouging the public today even though they got the big tax credits from Bush and the GOP.

danielost

on Dec 08, 2007

As I said, if the OIL companies increase prices you pass en EXCESS PROFITS tax and they will learn they can not increase their retail prices except for increases in oil or their operating expenses. The shift in the tax credits from big oil to the consumer will be far more effective and the excess profits tax would be returned to the consumer in the form of energy credits.

Oil companies are price gouging the public today even though they got the big tax credits from Bush and the GOP.

and i said every time you raise taxes they will pass it on to the customer.

COL Gene

on Dec 08, 2007

and i said every time you raise taxes they will pass it on to the customer.

At least with an excess profits tax and taking away the Bush tax credits to them we can return the money to the public rather then have it go into the pockets of the top oil executrices and people who own the oil company stocks!

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!