Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

Traveling the 65,000 square miles which make up the Third Congressional District, I know full well the impact increasing fuel prices can have on a budget. This is a problem affecting nearly every segment of our society.

According to AAA, the average nationwide fuel prices are setting records nearly every day. Our agriculture producers feel the impact, as do truck drivers who ship our goods across the nation.

We are running out of time to make meaningful headway against gasoline prices before the summer driving season arrives.

The American public is deeply worried about the rising cost of energy, yet we stand on the verge of making it worse by stubbornly going forward with legislation increasing taxes on domestic energy production and contemplating bills raising the gas tax - further increasing the burden faced by everyday people struggling to make ends meet.

It's simple, really. Raising taxes on American energy producers and increasing taxes on gasoline leads to higher gas prices and a greater dependency on foreign energy. Put simply, we cannot lower prices at the pump by raising taxes on the companies that find, refine, and transport our fuel.

That is the wrong path to take.

Instead, we must focus on creating a diverse, balanced energy policy with a focus on research and development. Wind, coal, nuclear, biofuels, hydro and petroleum can all have a place in our energy portfolio for years and decades to come.

I find the fact that countries such as France and New Zealand are ahead of us when it comes to alternative sources of power hard to accept. America has long been known as the country of innovation and invention. We should continue to live up to this reputation by exploring every legitimate alternative energy source - including domestic energy sources.

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