Capito Says Pelosi's Energy Bill is Nothing But Partisan Ploy
Press Release
In response to the House of Representative's consideration of misguided energy legislation late this afternoon, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) spoke out against the bill authored by House Leadership in a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives this evening.
Her remarks come as Speaker Pelosi and her leadership team succeeded in blocking truly bipartisan energy legislation, in favor of their partisan bill.
"Tonight's votes simply reaffirm the fact that the Speaker's bill is not about solving our energy problems, it's all about politics," said Capito. "And for West Virginians who are struggling every day with the high cost of gas and electricity, that's simply not acceptable."
"This isn't a Republican problem and it's not a Democratic problem. It demands bipartisanship, yet we just saw the leadership succeed in blocking the only bipartisan bill that came before the House today. To call this situation frustrating would be an understatement."
The National Conservation, Environment and Energy Independence Act - legislation that was authored by a group of approximately 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans including Rep. Capito - was offered as an alternative to the Speaker's energy bill, but was voted down.
Instead, the House passed HR 6899, a Democratic proposal authored by four members of the Democratic caucus - with zero bipartisan dialogue.
Though the bill will now go to the US Senate for consideration, recent media reports indicate that it is unlikely to see any action from Senate Leadership.
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Remarks by Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito - September 16, 2008
US House of Representatives Debate on HR 6899
As Prepared for Delivery
"The Speaker and her leadership team had an opportunity to present this House with a truly bipartisan energy bill. Instead they chose to bring forth a bill that is blatantly partisan, will increase energy costs in my state and once again essentially ignores West Virginia, its people and its abundant supply of coal.
"Let me be clear, in a time when West Virginians are making hard decisions based on their gas, electric and home heating needs, this bill offers them nothing but more of Washington. All talk, No action.
"West Virginians are tired of the United States begging foreign countries for oil when we have the resources here at home and it's time that we respond.
"We all understand that we can't drill our way to energy independence, just as we can't conserve our way to energy independence or shift completely to renewable energy. It will take a comprehensive plan to wean our nation off its $700 billion dependence on foreign oil. But this bill doesn't do the job.
"It includes a renewable portfolio standard that will send electricity costs sky-rocketing in states like West Virginia by mandating unreasonable standards for renewable energy. All of this at a time when many of my constituents can barely afford gas or their heating bill.
"Second, this bill fails to provide any revenue sharing arrangement with states who allow drilling off their coast. Without such a revenue sharing provision, states will have little to zero incentive to support drilling off their shores, raising my fears that this bill is nothing but a political sham rather than a truly comprehensive energy policy. We are essentially telling these states: help us solve our nation's energy crisis, but we're not going to give you access to the resources to make it happen. This is just more of the Washington knows best attitude that we just can't afford."
"Moreover, it doesn't invest royalties from offshore exploration into alternative energy sources like clean coal or renewable fuel.
"The affordability of energy is the most pressing issue facing our nation and yet the Majority has hastily cobbled together this partisan piece of legislation with no hearings, no markups, no amendments and no consultation with anyone outside the Majority caucus.
"The American people gave the Leadership of Congress a homework assignment to solve our energy crisis, and they responded by waiting until the last minute, hastily writing their bill and delivering it late. Sadly, it fully deserves the "F" the American people will be giving it.
"At a time when a solution demands real bipartisanship, this bill is a joke. I joined with the dozens of Democrats and Republicans to introduce HR 6709, a real bipartisan bill - but it's clear that such progress isn't the real goal of today's debate.
"The American people have been clear where they stand on this issue, now it's time for the Speaker and her leadership to catch up."
Facts and Figures About Today's Energy Bill
* Congressional Leadership has been clear about their opposition to coal as a viable energy resource. Senate Majority leader has said that "coal makes us sick" and Speaker's opposition to coal is also well-known. Today's Pelosi-legislation would provide just short of $3 billion in coal funding, while Congresswoman Capito's bipartisan legislation would call for up to $130 billion to set up a Carbon Capture/Sequestration and Nuclear Waste Reserve from revenues generated from offshore exploration.
* The renewable portfolio standard included in this bill places states like West Virginia at an extreme disadvantage and will send our electricity costs sky-high. In fact, West Virginia's congressional delegation was united in its opposition to such a measure as recently as last year.
* This bill has four sponsors, all of which are Democrats. In contrast, Congresswoman Capito has introduced energy legislation with a bipartisan coalition of dozens of Democrats and Republicans.
* Today's legislation provides zero revenue sharing with coastal states despite the fact that other states - such as Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi - with offshore drilling are currently engaged in revenue sharing agreements to help fund the local infrastructure needs associated with offshore energy exploration.
* Over the weekend, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that leading Energy Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), has come out strong against the House Democratic proposal, going so far as to urge her House Democrat colleagues to vote against it. Sen. Landrieu went so far as to tell CongressDaily: "It's dead on arrival in the Senate. The Senate will never pass a bill without revenue sharing, in my view."
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