So far in our series of proposals for the GOP to use in this fall's campaign, we have discussed modification of the US tax code, a change designed to help promote economic growth.
Today, the focus moves to energy. Right now, America is enjoying a boom in energy production which is happening despite all the efforts by president Obama and the Democrats to slow that boom down. It is amazing to watch Obama talk about increased oil and gas output when that entire increase comes from areas that he cannot control while production on federal land (where Obama's policies are key) is down about 15% during his term in office. Lower production means that hundreds of thousands of jobs that otherwise would have been created have been stopped by Obama. Lower production due to Obama's policies mean higher prices for everyone at the gas pump and on their home heating or electricity bills. Indeed, the people about whom Obama claims to care the most are the very ones who are getting squeezed day after day by high energy prices.
The Republicans need to present a clear and coherent message on energy that ought to include the following:
1. The Keystone Pipeline will be built.
2. Drilling on federal lands and areas without special circumstances should be expedited. Due consideration should remain for environmental issues, and the drilling allowed must meet conservation requirements. Nevertheless, the endless delays and regulations that come from the environmental impacts on drilling must be eliminated.
3. Federal programs that pump billions of dollars into ventures in "green" energy must end. The federal government can fund research into energy sources and methods, but it should steer clear of funneling billions into private ventures. It is particularly important that the huge subsidies given to ventures that just happen to be owned by big political backers of the president be ended.
4. Energy conservation and new technology should be promoted. Those efforts, however, should be limited to research and leading by example. In other words, the federal government can switch its fleet of trucks over to operation on natural gas to show how it can be done, but it ought not subsidize the conversion of fleet by private companies.
5. Exports of natural gas should be promoted where possible. America is now the clear world leader in production of natural gas. We should build on that lead to increase American incomes and job creation here at home. We should also export the natural gas production to reduce the power of countries with oil based economies like Iran, Venezuela, Russia, etc. Further, lowering the world price of energy through increased production will help bring prosperity to places that will buy more products from America, thus further improving our economy.
6. The war on coal has to end. While environmental standards are needed to keep the use of coal from polluting the atmosphere, those standards must be reasonable. Obama's EPA must not be allowed to destroy the coal industry just to satisfy the extreme environmentalist lobby.
7. The reduction in energy prices resulting from higher production must function to reduce the prices paid at the gas pump and to the electric utility companies. Every American needs to share in the bonanza that our energy resources are producing. The easiest way to spread this wealth is to get gas prices low.
Today, the focus moves to energy. Right now, America is enjoying a boom in energy production which is happening despite all the efforts by president Obama and the Democrats to slow that boom down. It is amazing to watch Obama talk about increased oil and gas output when that entire increase comes from areas that he cannot control while production on federal land (where Obama's policies are key) is down about 15% during his term in office. Lower production means that hundreds of thousands of jobs that otherwise would have been created have been stopped by Obama. Lower production due to Obama's policies mean higher prices for everyone at the gas pump and on their home heating or electricity bills. Indeed, the people about whom Obama claims to care the most are the very ones who are getting squeezed day after day by high energy prices.
The Republicans need to present a clear and coherent message on energy that ought to include the following:
1. The Keystone Pipeline will be built.
2. Drilling on federal lands and areas without special circumstances should be expedited. Due consideration should remain for environmental issues, and the drilling allowed must meet conservation requirements. Nevertheless, the endless delays and regulations that come from the environmental impacts on drilling must be eliminated.
3. Federal programs that pump billions of dollars into ventures in "green" energy must end. The federal government can fund research into energy sources and methods, but it should steer clear of funneling billions into private ventures. It is particularly important that the huge subsidies given to ventures that just happen to be owned by big political backers of the president be ended.
4. Energy conservation and new technology should be promoted. Those efforts, however, should be limited to research and leading by example. In other words, the federal government can switch its fleet of trucks over to operation on natural gas to show how it can be done, but it ought not subsidize the conversion of fleet by private companies.
5. Exports of natural gas should be promoted where possible. America is now the clear world leader in production of natural gas. We should build on that lead to increase American incomes and job creation here at home. We should also export the natural gas production to reduce the power of countries with oil based economies like Iran, Venezuela, Russia, etc. Further, lowering the world price of energy through increased production will help bring prosperity to places that will buy more products from America, thus further improving our economy.
6. The war on coal has to end. While environmental standards are needed to keep the use of coal from polluting the atmosphere, those standards must be reasonable. Obama's EPA must not be allowed to destroy the coal industry just to satisfy the extreme environmentalist lobby.
7. The reduction in energy prices resulting from higher production must function to reduce the prices paid at the gas pump and to the electric utility companies. Every American needs to share in the bonanza that our energy resources are producing. The easiest way to spread this wealth is to get gas prices low.
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