Bateman, Holt Square off on America's Energy Plan
Press Release
Bateman, Holt square off on America's energy plan
By Keith Brown
Lines were drawn Tuesday in the race for a seat representing the state's 12th Congressional District, as Republican challenger Alan Bateman outlined his plan to reduce energy costs that Democratic incumbent Rush D. Holt called partisan politics.
Bateman, a Holmdel committeeman, was joined by state Sen. Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr., R-Monmouth, as he outlined his energy plan Tuesday at an afternoon conference held at the commuter parking lot off Garden State Parkway Exit 109 in Middletown.
The plan calls for lifting the federal ban on offshore oil drilling and a commitment to generating 20 percent of the country's energy needs through alternative sources, such as biofuels, solar, wind and nuclear power, Bateman said during a telephone interview.
"The whole area of energy and gas prices really is a huge concern," Bateman said. "It's impacting all aspects of people's lives from driving to the cost to heat and cool their homes and other goods they buy. It's negatively impacting on the quality of life."
But Bateman's plan is a party line and will do nothing to solve the energy crisis, according to a statement released by Holt.
"Standing with the former Republican state chairman and pushing the Washington Republicans' energy agenda doesn't seem like change or an end to partisanship," the release said.
Bateman also criticized Gov. Corzine's plan to raise tolls on state roads, a plan he said Holt has endorsed.
"People are seeing gas prices go through the roof, food costs going sky high," Bateman said. "Then this toll hike plan comes out it's just another added cost. I think it's wrong."
Holt, a former scientist running an alternative energy lab at Princeton University, said his energy plan would tax oil companies' profits to provide $1,000 energy rebates for families and decrease foreign oil consumption through promoting cleaner domestic energy.
"I would urge Mr. Bateman to join me in a less partisan and more thoughtful approach to actually solving our energy crisis," Holt said in the release.
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