Answer To Energy Is 'All Of The Above'

Source: http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=300928200610945

By ADAM PUTNAM | Posted Monday, July 14, 2008 4:20 PM PT

Watching Democrat leaders in Washington respond to skyrocketing gas prices has been nothing short of a tutorial on the five stages of grief.

Weeks of conspicuous silence (denial). Lashing out at the oil companies, the White House, the markets, the oil companies again (anger). Repeated pronouncements that prices would stabilize at one point or another in the not-too-distant future (bargaining). The long faces trying to explain away their failure to pass a single energy bill that creates energy (depression).

Sen. Barack Obama topped it all off by saying he had hoped the rise in gas prices would have been a "gradual adjustment" so American families could adapt to the reality of four-buck gasoline. Acceptance.

For Obama, there is some cathartic value in paying four bucks for a gallon of gasoline. Tell that to the independent trucker paying $1,500 to fill up, or the school districts eliminating bus stops — or entire routes, for that matter. Tell that to the family that didn't have the resources to carry out its travel plans over July Fourth.

On this issue, Washington isn't just broken — it's AWOL. Roadblocks to reform efforts have been reinforced by shopworn rhetoric and retread initiatives. Real initiatives have been supplanted by a mealy-mouth hodgepodge of supposed cure-alls, one more ineffectual than the next:

• Raise taxes?

Jimmy Carter tried that. Didn't work.

• Tell energy companies to use the land they have leased for exploration or lose access to it?

Already the law of the land.

• Claim oil companies are just sitting on 68 million of the federal acres they have invested considerable capital in?

Proved false by independent scientists.

• Simply cast blame at speculators?

Liberal commentators are lining up to say that won't pass muster.

This broken status quo represents little more than government by trial and error. With each wrong turn, the pain at the pump worsens.

This is the Democrat majority's favorite mistake: say any number of actors are to blame for a particular public policy challenge, and then go around groping for one silver bullet to fix it.

Republicans are offering a clean break from the failed policies of the past in the form of an "all of the above" approach that employs cutting-edge, 21st century technologies and appeals to the same do-it-yourself ethos that brought leaders of foresight and purpose to Philadelphia 232 years ago this month.

Through this agenda, we will increase production of American-made energy — including renewable and alternative forms, next-generation oil, natural gas and clean coal — while protecting our nation's natural resources.

We will cut red tape and increase energy supplies by spurring construction of new refineries and nuclear power plants, as many European nations are doing.

And we will make America more energy efficient by offering significant conservation tax breaks to Americans who invest in green technologies for their home, car or business.

What do congressional Democrats say they are for?

Last month, one of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's fellow California Democrats said she would be "all about socializing" and "taking over" the oil companies.

Just two weeks ago, another senior House Democrat said the "government should own the refineries."

This week, one Capitol Hill Democrat declared the real Democrat energy strategy to be "driving small cars and waiting for the wind."

Socializing, nationalizing and driving small cars. It's enough to make you think they attended the Hugo Chavez School of Capitalism.

For all the discussion about a closely divided nation, the American people agree in record numbers that skyrocketing gas prices have had a profound impact on their lives. In no fewer than six separate national surveys, a clear majority has indicated support for Republican solutions to increase supply and lower prices.

Acceptance may be all well and good for Obama, but it's a nonstarter for the American people.

A sixth sense is often regarded as intangible, but in this matter it's clear what the sixth stage of grief should be: action.

Join House Republicans in demanding that Democrats who control Congress take exactly this action: hold a vote on meaningful legislation that will increase the supply of American-made energy and lower gas prices — and do it before the House adjourns in August.

Putnam represents Florida's 12th congressional district, which is in the central part of the state, and is chairman of the House Republican Conference.