[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H14160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE BUSH-CHENEY ENERGY PLAN

  (Mr. DeFAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, the so-called Bush-Cheney energy plan was 
developed in secret, and it was developed in secret because it was 
disastrous for America. It would have been bad policy for the 1950s 
based on subsidies for the oil, coal and gas industry, dig, drill and 
burn, but it was a total embarrassment and disaster for 21st century 
policies. Today we have a chance to reverse that, to put in place a 
modest renewable portfolio, but the Republicans object to renewable 
portfolios; to put in place a mandate on increased fuel economy, which 
the American people would dearly love to have more efficient vehicles, 
but the Republicans object to that; and investment in new technologies 
and new sustainable fuels to take us to energy independence, to free us 
from the thrall of being subject to Chavez and the Saudis and others, 
but the Republicans object to that too. And we would pay for it by 
stripping the wildly profitable oil and gas industry of some tax 
subsidies from the American people, and the Republicans object to that 
too. But despite their objections, we are going to establish a new 
energy direction sustainable for this country.

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