Adler and Emanuel Outline Plan to Lower Gas Prices, Create New Jobs and Businesses

Press Release

Vowing to reduce America's addiction to foreign oil and lower gas prices, John Adler, the Democratic congressional candidate in New Jersey's 3rd district was joined by the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, Congressman Rahm Emanuel (IL-4) today to outline a bold, innovative energy plan that will invest in clean, alternative energy sources and strengthen America as a leader in the world economy.

"It's time to pass an independent and self sufficient energy plan that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, bring down the price of gas, and help create new jobs and businesses," said Adler. "New Jersey families cannot afford to wait any longer as the price of a gallon of gas skyrockets while oil company profits hit record highs. It's time we stopped giving oil companies billions of dollars in tax subsidies, and started investing in clean, alternative energy sources. Investing in clean energy like wind, solar, and bio-fuels will bolster the American economy, and help create thousands of new jobs and businesses." Adler also said he supports measures to prosecute oil companies for price gouging and additional measures to give the Justice Department authority to take action against OPEC state-controlled entities that collude to limit the supply, or fix the price of oil.

American families are spending 6.1% of their family income on gas prices, an all time high since 1985. Under the failed leadership of the Bush administration oil companies have profited nearly $600 billion, while the cost for a gallon of gas has exceeded $4 and barrel of oil $130. Big oil companies continue to receive billions in taxpayer subsidies each year.

"President Bush once famously acknowledged that America was addicted to oil. But over the last seven years, President Bush and the Republican Congress have refused to help end that addiction. When the Democratic Congress took decisive action to invest in alternative energy sources, President Bush and his Republican rubberstamps tried to block our progress every step of the way," said Chairman Emanuel. "President Bush and Congressional Republicans have made it clear that their priority is subsidizing the big oil companies with billions in taxpayer dollars instead of bringing down energy prices for New Jersey families. We need more leaders like John Adler in Congress who will put middle class families first, invest in America, and make us energy independent."

Adler said the federal government needs to stop providing billions of dollars in tax subsidies to big oil companies and supports efforts underway to give middle class families relief at the pump by:

* Prosecuting oil companies that practice price gouging

* Temporarily halting shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

* Enforcing the Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act that gives the Justice Department ability to investigate price gouging, and authority to take legal action against OPEC state-controlled entities that collude to limit the supply, or fix the price of oil

* Eliminating billions of dollars in tax subsidies to big oil companies

A proponent of green technology, Adler has a strong record of making alternative energy a priority for New Jersey, including sponsorship of bills to increase the use of renewable energy by providing tax incentives to home owners and small businesses that use solar technology. In Congress, Adler will fight for a long term independent and self sufficient clean energy plan to lower gas prices, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and create new jobs and businesses:

ENERGY PLAN

• Invest in wind, solar, bio-diesel, geothermal, and other sources of renewable energy to reduce
our dependence on foreign oil, and fossil fuels.

• Renewable electricity standard—25 percent renewable sources such as wind and solar by
2025

• Provide tax incentives for energy efficient buildings and appliances. Provide incentives to
people who use clean, alternative energy and companies that produce it.

• New mileage standards for all cars—40 miles per gallon

• Carbon Neutral federal offices: Half of the energy used by the federal government goes towards powering over 500,000 federal buildings around the country. The cost to taxpayers is over $5 billion dollars.

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