Valdosta Daily Times - Chambliss Talks About Gas Prices

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Valdosta Daily Times - Chambliss Talks About Gas Prices

By Dean Poling

Traveling across the state last year, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) spoke mostly about Iraq, the topic at the top of most people's minds.

This year, as he meets with constituents throughout South Georgia, as well as a Thursday afternoon meeting with The Valdosta Daily Times editorial board, Chambliss said the pressing topic is gas prices.

Wherever he goes, gas prices dominate the discussion, fuel the questions he faces, and provide him an opportunity to discuss a compromise energy bill he is spearheading in the Senate.

Chambliss and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) created and headed what has been dubbed the "Gang of 10," a collection of five Republicans and five Democrats dedicated to finding a congressional compromise in drilling for oil and promoting alternative fuels.

Earlier this month, Chambliss and Conrad introduced legislation that would allow some offshore drilling, offer tax incentives as well as research dollars into alternative fuel research, delve into nuclear energy options, and convert coal into a liquid fuel source. The legislation would still prohibit drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as well as oil shale production in Utah, Wyoming and other Western states.

"This is not an overly ambitious proposal, and does not go as far as I would like to see it go. ... If there is a vote for ANWR, it won't get the votes to pass, but I'll vote for it," Chambliss said, adding that a bipartisan compromise seemed the only way to get something done. "Our compromise is the only possible bill that might get passed."

The compromise proposal has received praise and criticism. Chambliss has been roundly criticized by Rush Limbaugh and other conservative pundits for compromising with Democrats, especially in a presidential election year.

In regard to the Gang of 10 energy compromise, Cox News Service quoted Limbaugh as saying, "Senator (John) McCain had an issue the Republicans could embarrass (Democratic presidential candidate Barack) Obama with and perhaps ride to victory, because the mass majority of the American people want to do the opposite of what the Democrats do. So nobody can figure out why compromise with the Democrats and cut the knees off of Senator McCain."

Chambliss says Limbaugh and other conservative radio hosts have been full of trash talk since the compromise was introduced.

"We didn't get sent to Washington to create political issues, we were sent to Washington to solve problems," Chambliss told The Valdosta Daily Times editorial board. "If we solve problems, they (political pundits) don't have a controversy to focus on."

Chambliss has also been promoting Georgia's biofuel potential with its pine trees and pine straw as opposed to the use of corn which has driven a rise in food prices.

In other matters, Chambliss discussed:

— Moody Air Force Base's abandoned Magnolia Grove military housing project, which caused the loss of millions of dollars for dozens of area subcontractors for work on 100 uncompleted houses. The senator hopes for new developments by October or November.

— Though Iraq may not be at the top of many constituents' lists this year, Chambliss said we should see a drawdown of American troops by year's end, a move which is being generated by military success rather than political interference. Also, despite reported budget surpluses of $50 billion, Chambliss said, the Iraqis are paying their way in many areas, especially in funding its own military.

— A member of the Senate's Armed Services Committee, Chambliss said he believed President George W. Bush gave a strong response to Russia's invasion of Georgia. He was also impressed with McCain's response, but thought Obama's response was "weak." Chambliss visited the region two years ago, and found Tbilisi to be poised on democratic modernization while the disputed South Ossetia region seemed a Cold War remnant of the Soviet Union.

— Chambliss is campaigning for reelection to a second term as senator. He faces Democratic challenger Jim Martin in the November general election. The Valdosta Daily Times, Moody Air Force Base, and the area chapter of the Military Officers Association of America were among Chambliss' Valdosta stops Thursday.

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