[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 6, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PRESIDENT BUSH'S MISGUIDED ENERGY PLAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 6, 2001

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, President Bush has released his long-
awaited energy plan and even with last minute changes it is as flawed 
and one-sided as anticipated.
  President Bush has proposed nothing to deal with the immediate energy 
crisis facing California and the Pacific Northwest and the looming 
crisis for New England and other parts of the country.
  The President has proposed nothing to deal with rising gasoline and 
energy prices. Instead, Bush has said that his tax cut proposal will 
help consumers with increased energy cost. However, his income tax 
reductions are not fully phased in until the year 2006.
  How will lower and middle class families afford rising energy prices 
for the next five years under President Bush's solution?
  In addition, 45% of his $1.6 trillion tax plan would benefit the 
wealthiest 1% of Americans. Middle class families making less than 
$44,000 would get only 13% of the benefits, about $11 per week in the 
year 2006 under the plan.
  We should not destroy our national parks, pristine federal lands, and 
the environment to provide a very limited amount of additional oil and 
gas. For example, opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 
``America's Serengeti'' to oil and gas exploration is a mistake.
  In addition, the President in proposing to rollback environmental and 
clean air regulations that could actually increase emissions of ozone 
causing pollutants.
  Conservation must be an integral part of any national energy plan but 
the President's plan proposed very little for energy efficiency or 
renewable energy.
  Democrats believe in a balanced energy policy that helps consumers by 
both increasing production and reducing energy demand.
  The federal government must become more energy efficient, invest in 
energy research, and ensure that energy markets are fair and 
competitive.

                          ____________________