01 Jan 2002 Teamster Chief James Hoffa Warns Politicians In Both Parties Not To Stand In The Way Of Oil Exploration In Alaska, by Tom Randall

BACKGROUND: On the issue of oil exploration in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa told The National Center for Public Policy Research, “ANWR provides expanded energy resources and increased job opportunities for Teamster members and their families. We cannot understand how so-called friends of working families can stand in the way of responsible job creation like ANWR, which already has bi-partisan support to pass on a straight up or down vote.”

“Teamster members will ‘Remember in November,'” Hoffa told The National Center, “and hold those politicians accountable for their actions which hurt working families. We can do no less.”

TEN SECOND RESPONSE: Teamsters President Hoffa and his fellow Teamsters have been strong supporters of President Bush’s energy plan, as have other labor union leaders and members. They deserve the nation’s thanks.

THIRTY SECOND RESPONSE: Teamsters President James Hoffa is absolutely right to point out the importance oil exploration in ANWR has to job creation nationwide. The proposal to explore there is a key part of President Bush’s energy plan, for which Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) refuses to schedule a Senate vote. Mr. Hoffa’s statement to The National Center for Public Policy Research appears to be a clear message to members of both parties about how the Teamsters unions will expend their efforts in this fall’s elections.

DISCUSSION: Oil exploration in ANWR could produce oil equal to half of all U.S. imports from Persian Gulf countries for 30 years. If we had opened the area for drilling years ago, there would be less concern about the possibility of our war on terrorism in Gulf region disrupting energy supplies.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: To get more information on labor unions and conservatives working together on environmental and energy issues, see: National Policy Analysis #400, “On Environmental Issues, Conservative Groups and Labor Unions are Natural Born Allies” by Tom Randall, which will be available online the first week of April 2002 at https://nationalcenter.org/NPA400.html.

For a brief discussion of how significant exploring for oil in Alaska will be to the U.S., see: Ten Second Response, “Senate Democrats Fight Energy Bill” by Tom Randall at https://nationalcenter.org/TSR101801.html.

For a discussion of why Alaskan exploration is so much more important than “alternative” energy sources, see: National Policy Analysis #375, “Wishes Won’t Fuel Our Economy: We Need Oil Drilling,” by Amy Ridenour at https://nationalcenter.org/NPA375.html.

For a look at how Senator Daschle’s proposed energy bill raises unfounded global warming concerns and could increase energy costs,
see: Ten Second Response, “Senate Democrats’ Energy Bill Promotes Global Warming Theory” by Gretchen Randall at https://nationalcenter.org/TSR121701.html.

To read about a virtually limitless source of safe, clean nuclear energy, see: National Policy Analysis #378, “Integral Fast Reactors: Source of Safe, Abundant, Non-Polluting Power” by George S. Stanford, Ph.D. at https://nationalcenter.org/NPA378.html.