Congressman Baird Votes NO on Flawed Energy Bill

Congressman Baird Votes NO on Flawed Energy Bill
July 28, 2005

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brian Baird released the following statement after voting against the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which passed the House today:

"In a time of record-breaking oil prices, conflict in the Middle East, and global warming, our nation desperately needs a new approach to its outdated energy policy. Instead, we have an energy bill that continues to squeeze average Americans at the gas pump and throw billions of dollars in tax breaks and subsidies at some of the wealthiest oil and gas companies in the world.

"Why should taxpayers be forced to subsidize wealthy oil companies like Exxon Mobil, which last year alone posted a record-breaking profit of more than $25 billion? Why should the government give tax breaks to these wealthy oil companies when millions of American families are struggling to pay record-high prices at the gas pump?

"This bill perpetuates our dependence on fossil fuels and does too little to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. In fact, under this bill, our country's need for foreign oil will continue to increase.

"I was pleased to see that the final bill contains more incentives for renewable energy than the House-version that passed earlier this year, and I applaud Senator Cantwell for including a number of elements that will benefit Northwest utilities and ratepayers. Overall, however, these positive aspects of the bill are far outweighed by the negative aspects."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/wa03_baird/EnergyBill072805.html