Lawmakers Near Agreement on Energy Bill

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Lawmakers Near Agreement on Energy Bill

We can debate the pros and cons of this legislation but this kind of rhetoric really frosts my cookie so to speak:

But some Democrats criticized the bill for providing cash-flush energy companies a mountain of tax subsidies, loan guarantees and support such as help to pay for deep-water oil exploration and drilling.

"These are the wealthiest companies in America. We shouldn't be subsidizing them," complained Rep. Edward Markey (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass.

These clowns will be the first ones railing against the dependence of the USA on foreign oil imports especially from the Middle East. Earth to Markey, the production costs in the Middle East are a lot lower and if production costs are too high guess who quits producing oil and guess who we become more reliant on.

[andyfox]

Exxon-Mobil made $25,000,000,000 last year. How'd the U.S. government come out?

Markey's right. Why not produce cars that get better mileage and we can tell both the Saudi sheiks extortionists and Exxon-Mobil extortionists where they can shove it?

[slamdunkpro]

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Markey's right. Why not produce cars that get better mileage

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Because you can't legislate or dictate technology.

Sure, you could pass a law that says "cars must get 100mpg by 2007" Could the auto makers do it? Possibly. Of course cars would cost 1,000,000 each and then the libs would carp about how the auto companies are sticking it to the consumers and that they aren't safe because they are now made out of snot and tissue paper to keep the weight down. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[MtSmalls]

If we want to achieve "independence" from middle east oil imports, we have two choices. Find an alternate source for the same product (more offshore drilling, more drilling in the ANWR) OR find a substitute product. My personal preference is finding a substitute. This is where the government can step in, with research grants and incentives for the automakers (or the energy producers) not just for automobile standards, but for power plants as well.

Time was when the Republicans stood for less government interference and subsidies....

[slamdunkpro]

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This is where the government can step in, with research grants and incentives for the automakers (or the energy producers) not just for automobile standards, but for power plants as well.

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I 100% agree Now just get the Dems and the Libs to quit carping about "corporate welfare"(research grants) tax breaks for the rich coporations (incentives), those horrible "budget cuts" (less government), quit spreading the lie that Republicans want to "Poison the air, poison the water and kill children", and quit being obstructive in congress and we just might get somewhere. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[ACPlayer]

I presume this was directed at your own post.

[MtSmalls]

I hope you note that I chose the words 'research grant' and not 'tax cuts'. They are NOT the same thing.

The current energy bill in Congress is nothing but corporate payback for the election contributions.

[superleeds]

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Because you can't legislate or dictate technology.

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They managed it during the last oil crisis. The technology still exists, ask the Japs.

[SheetWise]

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...but this kind of rhetoric really frosts my cookie ...

[/ QUOTE ] [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[James Boston]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Markey's right. Why not produce cars that get better mileage

[/ QUOTE ]

Because you can't legislate or dictate technology.

Sure, you could pass a law that says "cars must get 100mpg by 2007" Could the auto makers do it? Possibly. Of course cars would cost 1,000,000 each and then the libs would carp about how the auto companies are sticking it to the consumers and that they aren't safe because they are now made out of snot and tissue paper to keep the weight down. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

You can't legislate technology, but it you're going to subsidize an endeavor, it shouldn't go to the wealthiest companies in the world. Exxon-Mobile can afford to finance new oil-explorations with their own money. Internal financing of R&D for a more fuel efficient engine isn't that realisitic given how much American car manufacturers are struggling as it is. If you're going to subsidize something, subsidize that. The notion that the US government would give a nickel in relief to an oil company is sickening. They don't need it!