Tell Congress NO to Gang of Ten Drilling Surrender... No Compromise

Center for Individual Freedom: The American people are telling our elected officials: "Drill Here and Drill Now!" But five Republicans-in-Name-Only (RINOs) are siding with the NO NEW DRILLING CROWD in Congress and basically betraying American families suffering severe financial hardship because of the high price of gasoline at the pump.

Five RINOs are trying to strike a deal with the devil and they're calling it a "compromise." [ARRA Reported on this ... full story] But like last year's so-called attempted "compromise" on amnesty for 12-20 million illegal aliens... it is NO SUCH THING! In actuality, it's a complete and total surrender... a capitulation to liberals who see record energy costs as a political football and tell you "inflate your tires," "we can't drive our SUVs" or we can't "eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees."

If you listened to Rush Limbaugh on Friday, you already know some of the sordid and DECEPTIVE details of this proposed SURRENDER:

"Essentially there is a Gang of Ten senators, five Republicans led by Lindsey Graham, John Thune, Saxby Chambliss, Bob Corker, and Johnny Isaakson. They joined five Democrats to craft an energy bill in the Senate that is exactly what Barack Obama wants. It is an utter disaster." [Emphasis Mine]

"It's a Democrat giveaway. ... The regulatory hurdles are huge. They have expanded. They are higher. PETA has a role. The ACLU has a role. The bill bars drilling within 50 miles of the United States coastline. That puts off limits some of the most productive areas -- even if the states allow it -- including in ANWR. Well, you can only drill in four states anyway under this bill, but no -- you can't drill any closer to 50 miles of the coastline... This deal would allow drilling if -- if and when -- the EPA and PETA and states and cities and counties and the ACLU clear the way."

In other words, we CAN drill as long as we drill only when PETA and the ACLU and the EPA say it's okay to drill! That's NOT "compromise!" That's essentially the same scam liberals have been perpetrating on the American people all along! And make no mistake, RIGHT NOW, at this very minute, these ten Senators are advancing their treacherous case... attempting to drive a stake into the heart of the grassroots movement to force Congress to "Drill Here and Drill Now!"

We can't let that happen! Contact President George W. Bush, Senators Graham, Thune, Chambliss, Corker and Isaakson and each and every Member of the Republican Leadership of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. Tell them that this ill-hatched plan from Graham, Thune, Chambliss, Corker and Isaakson MUST NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY! ARRA Contact Congress Info!

Gas Price Reduction Act of 2008

ARRA News Service - Senate Republicans unveiled a new energy plan, the Gas Price Reduction Act of 2008, which will open up the outer continental shelf for oil exploration and remove the moratorium on Western oil shale exploration imposed by Democrats last year.

The new bill, cosponsored by 42 Republican senators, is designed to give Democrats another chance to support more American energy and more American jobs. While Republicans in the Senate continue to strongly support environmentally responsible oil exploration in ANWR, the new bill is designed to remove that as an excuse for Democrats to hide behind. If Senate Democrats will not support these sensible ways to increase American access to oil and natural gas, and thus alleviate some of the pressure pushing gas prices higher, they will have to go home next week and explain to their constituents why.

In contrast, Senate Democrats have offered nothing except taxation, regulation and litigation in response to the problem of high energy costs. House Democrats’ continue to fumble on energy legislation, as the continue to put forth proposals that will do nothing to lower gas prices.

Summary of Provisions
TITLE I – DEEP SEA EXPLORATION (OCS)
14 Billion Barrels On Atlantic and Pacific OCS – More Than All US Imports From Persian Gulf Countries Over The Last 15 Years

• State Option Nationwide (except Gulf of Mexico)
• Governor petitions to allow exploration, with concurrence of state legislature
• Exploration must be at least 50 miles from coast
• 50% of revenues to Federal Treasury, 37.5% to States, 12.5% to Land & Water Conservation Fund

TITLE II: WESTERN STATE OIL SHALE EXPLORATION
More Than 3 Times The Oil Reserves Of Saudi Arabia

• 800 billion - 2 trillion potentially recoverable barrels in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming
• Democrat Congress put moratorium on final regulations for development of this resource
• Republican proposal would repeal the moratorium and allow exploration to move forward

TITLE III: PLUG-IN ELECTRIC CARS AND TRUCKS

• We need better batteries to maximize electricity range & use less gas
• Increased R&D for advanced batteries
• Direct Loans for advanced battery manufacturing facilities
• Sense of Senate that the Federal Government should increase its purchases of these vehicles

TITLE IV: STRENGTHENING U.S. FUTURES MARKETS

• Authorizes increased funding/staff for Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
• Directs the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets to study the international regulation of commodities markets
• Codifies CFTC action on position limits and transparency for foreign boards of trade
• Requires the CFTC to gather information on index traders and swap dealers