Conservatives Condemn House Passed Energy Bills

Washington, DC—On August 4, 2007 the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2776 - Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007, and H.R. 3221 - New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act.

Unfortunately these two bills do absolutely nothing to improve overall domestic energy production, increase petroleum refinery capacity or lessen our nation’s every growing dependence on foreign sources of energy. 

“This legislation imposes tens of billions of dollars in taxes on energy sources that work in order to subsidize those that don't,” said J. William Lauderback, Executive Vice President of The American Conservative Union.  

“Despite U.S. Department of Energy forecasts that the nation’s energy demand will increase 30% by 2030, these Jimmy Carter era inspired energy bills will not result a single BTU increase in net energy production,” Lauderback continued.

“A real energy bill would remove government impediments to domestic energy production to ensure that the nation's energy supplies are as abundant and affordable as market forces will allow.  These bills do just the opposite,” Lauderback concluded.

Speaker Pelosi and her fellow Democrats were not alone in approving these tax-laden, fiscally irresponsible bills.  Twenty-six Republicans joined Pelosi in support of H.R. 3221 and nine joined her on H.R. 2776 (the tax bill).