WASHINGTON -- Members of the political action group MoveOn.org said they would hold "Rallies for An Oil-Free Congress" at more 300 gas stations nationwide today, exposing Republicans in Congress for accepting campaign contributions from Big Oil companies while they do nothing to ease the burden of Americans who are paying more at the pumps.
The rallies are part of a National Day of Action, MoveOn.org said.
"Big Oil companies have given millions in campaign contributions to the [image-nocss] Republican-controlled Congress, but that pales in comparison to the billions they've received in tax breaks and subsidies. Republicans have consistently rejected Democratic attempts to move toward energy independence and a national clean energy policy. With gas prices soaring and global warming a deepening threat, it's time to stop America's addiction to oilby curing Republicans' addition to oil money," said MoveOn.org member Nita Chaudhary.
Meanwhile, formerand perhaps futurepresidential candidate and U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) earlier this week called for a nationwide energy policy that embraces ideas like wind power and hybrid cars to wean America off Middle East oil, reported The Cape Cod Times.
We can't respond to climate change, and we can't wage and win a real war on terror if we don't at last take bold, real steps toward energy independence, Kerry told a crowd of environmentalists, politicians and other guests at Faneuil Hall.
For too long, he said, we have allowed fundamental problems in the Middle East to fester by signaling corrupt Arab regimes that we don't care what they do so long as they keep the oil flowing.
His speech, billed as a major public policy address on energy, did not mention the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm or a new proposal for up to 120 wind turbines in Buzzards Bay, said the report. On the Cape Wind project, Kerry continues to reserve judgment. His spokesperson, April Boyd, said the senator is waiting until the final studies on the wind farm are complete. John Kerry has said we need to wait and see what the environmental impact statement says about the project, Boyd said. He would say the same about any energy project. When the process is complete, he will read what they have to say and make a decision.
Kerry, who highlighted efforts during his career to curb acid rain and global warning, called for wind power to be a part of the nation's new energy mix. With only 3% of the world's oil reserves in this country, there is simply no way to drill our way out of this crisis, Kerry said.
Kerry, who lost the 2004 presidential election to President Bush and is a possible Democratic candidate in 2008, called the energy bill passed by the Republican Congress a monstrosity with no guiding national goal, no tough decisions, no change in prioritiesjust a logrolling, back-scratching collection of subsidies for any industry with the clout to get a seat at the table and a share of the pork.
Kerry said he would file legislation in Washington that called for three major changes:
Reversing and stopping emissions that cause global warming by freezing the level of greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 and decreasing them by 65 percent by 2050. Reducing oil consumption by 2.5 million barrels a day by 2015, which is equivalent to the amount the United States imports from the Persian Gulf. The plan would promote renewable energy, raise fuel economy standards, mandate that all cars be able to run on ethanol blends by 2020, offer tax credits to convert factories to electric hybrid cars, eliminate tax breaks for SUVs that are used solely as passenger vehicles, and mandate that gas stations affiliated with major oil companies have at least one ethanol pump by 2010. With the proper tax credits, Kerry said 20% of the nation's cars could be hybrids by 2010. Developing new energy technologies by doubling federal funding for research and development. Kerry would eliminate tax breaks for oil companies to create a $20 billion Energy Security & Conservation Trust Fund for new technology.Across our history, we've successfully moved from wood to coal, coal to oil, oil to a mix of oil, gas, coal, nuclear and hydroelectric. Now it's time to move to solar, wind, biomass, fuel cells, clean coal, and other wonders of American ingenuity, and I believe Washington must lead the marketplace in the right direction, he said.
Click here to view the prepared text of the speech.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.