The Official Truth Squad

THE OFFICIAL TRUTH SQUAD -- (House of Representatives - April 25, 2006)

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Ms. FOXX. Thank you, Congressman Price. I appreciate very much again your leadership in bringing the information from the Truth Squad here to the floor of the House and am pleased to join you and Congresswoman Blackburn tonight to talk about energy prices.

You know, Mr. Speaker, the Democrats sure do like to have their cake and eat it too. Over and over again they complain about something and then turn right around and oppose any commonsense solutions offered by Republicans. I think you have done a good job of talking about some of the issues related to the high price of gasoline. None of us likes to pay a high price for gasoline, and those of us who are Members of Congress who have large districts probably are affected by it as much as a lot of the average Americans are because of our ability to get out in the districts and travel and visit with our constituents.

But Democrats have a way of talking about things and doing something differently. They are giving us a hard time now about the high price of gasoline. They talk about the deficit, they whine about the deficit, but they vote against slowing the growth of spending. They complain about the President's plan in Iraq, but they offer no alternatives. They say we need to increase border security, but they vote against the bills that would do just that. The list goes on and on.

The Democrats' latest case of hypocrisy is that they hold a press conference to complain about our rising energy prices, even though their actions have contributed directly to the problem. For a party that claims it is looking out for the best interests of the American people, it has a funny way of showing it.

For decades the Democrats have fought to stop production of all forms of energy. They voted against increasing domestic energy supplies, which would not only lower prices but create more jobs here at home. They have opposed Republican efforts to lessen the tax burden at the pump. They have opposed nuclear energy and renewable fuels. They have opposed cracking down on price gouging.

Republicans have been working hard, Mr. Speaker, to address rising energy prices, but all the Democrats do is vote ``no,'' and we don't think that ``no'' is an energy policy. Democrats have traditionally, again, and consistently opposed all GOP efforts to increase domestic energy production. For nearly three decades environmental extremists and their liberal allies in Congress have fought to halt production of all forms of energy. In fact, Democrat obstructionists have repeatedly voted against Republican efforts to increase domestic supply, encourage innovation and technology advancement, and lower the tax burden Americans pay at the pump.

Let me talk a little bit about the specifics on that. Five times Democrats have had a chance to vote for comprehensive energy reform for programs to expand the use of nuclear energy and renewable fuels, and five times they said no. And this is just in recent years.

July 25, 2005, H.R. 6, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, on agreeing to the conference report. It passed the House by a recorded vote of 275-256, but 124 Democrats voted ``no.''

June 15, 2004, H.R. 4503, Energy Policy Act of 2004, on passage, 152 Democrats voted ``no.'' It passed by 244-178.

November 18, 2003, H.R. 6, Energy Conservation Research and Development, on agreeing to the conference report, 154 Democrats voted ``no.''

So they have consistently voted ``no'' on issues that would help us increase the energy supply.

We think that folks need to ask the minority leader some questions about rising gas prices and her record on that, and the Democrats' record on it. They have fashioned an abysmal record on energy issues that are important to the American public, yet now they have the temerity to complain about the strain of rising gas prices.

Here are some questions that need to be asked. In the face of rising gas prices for working families, why have you and your Capitol Hill Democrats consistently opposed measures designed to increase the supply of American energy?

With world energy prices rising because of increased demand, why did 124 of your House Democrats vote against the energy bill in 2005 to encourage the expansion of clean nuclear energy supplies?

Question number three that could be asked: In the face of rising gas prices for Americans, why did 196 of your House Democrats vote against the 2005 energy bill that would have streamlined the process of refinery expansion and construction that is so critical to the future of America's energy infrastructure?

Question number four: With gas prices for working Americans on the rise, why do you oppose major labor organizations, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who actively petitioned the Congress to increase domestic energy supplies to create jobs for their workers?

And last but not least, the fifth question: In the face of rising gas prices for working families, why do you and the Democrats continue to vote ``no'' on every responsible proposal that would put Americans to work producing more of our own American energy to lower prices?

Again, the Democrats want to have it both ways. They want to talk about the problem and put it off on us, but they want to avoid coming up with a way to solve the problem. We need to ask these questions of the Democrats and put them on the spot about why gas prices are so high.

They are responsible for it, because they have refused to allow us to come up with ways to provide alternative energy. I hope Americans will write their Members of Congress, particularly the Democrats, and say to them: Why are you doing this? Why do you want gas prices to be so high and hurt working Americans?

Congressman Price, I think I am going to let you tidy up this session, since you have done such a great job of it, and thank you for letting me be a part of it.

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