02 Jan 2002 President Bush Urges Senate to Approve Energy Bill to Protect Jobs, by Tom Randall

BACKGROUND: President Bush, speaking January 22 at a factory in Belle, West Virginia, emphasized the need for quick passage of the energy bill being held up in the Senate by Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD). The President said, “This nation needs an energy policy. Jobs depend on affordable energy.” He also noted that while conservation and alternative sources of energy are desirable, they will not satisfy our energy needs.

TEN SECOND RESPONSE: Abundant affordable energy is vital to jobs and American security and it is irresponsible for Senator Daschle to refuse to allow a vote on the energy bill.

THIRTY SECOND RESPONSE: With our economy and security in peril since the terrorist attacks of September 11, it is irresponsible for Senator Daschle to prevent a vote to help provide abundant, affordable energy. It is time to put partisanship aside and take action to prevent the loss of American jobs, reinvigorate our economy and provide for our national security. Instead, Senator Daschle is catering to the whims of the extreme left wing of his party.

DISCUSSION: In refusing to allow President Bush’s energy bill to come to the Senate floor for a vote, Senator Daschle is ignoring the energy needs of the country — needs which can be met in a sound, practical and environmentally-safe ways.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For a brief discussion of how significant exploring for oil in Alaska will be to the U.S., see: “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.

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.

For a look at how Senator Daschle’s proposed energy bill raises unfounded global warming issues which would increase energy costs, see: Senate Democrats’ Energy Bill Promotes Global Warming Theory by Gretchen Randall at https://nationalcenter.org/TSR121701.html.