Walberg Weekly Wrap-Up

Op-Ed

WALBERG WEEKLY WRAP-UP

Congress Needs to Vote for More American Oil Drilling, Alternative Energy Sources

Above the Speaker's rostrum in the House chamber is an inscription from former Secretary of State Daniel Webster:

"Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, build up its institutions, promote all its great interests, and see whether we also, in our day and generation, may not perform something worthy to be remembered."

If Mr. Webster were still around today, he would be embarrassed by what has transpired in Washington this year.

With gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon all summer long, Speaker Pelosi adjourned the House for five weeks in August and September without taking action to lower gas prices and break our dependence on foreign oil. The American people felt financial pain every time they headed to the pump, yet the Speaker went on a book tour and other members of Congress went on vacation.

Throughout the last five weeks, many members of Congress have protested Speaker Pelosi's actions by giving speeches on the House floor, sometimes in a darkened chamber with large crowds of tourists looking on. I personally spent several days participating in the protest, calling for more American energy production.

America needs legislation to immediately drill in places like the Gulf of Mexico, ANWR and the Outer Continental Shelf and to increase our refinery capacity. We need to expand the development of wind, solar and other alternative energies and build new nuclear power plants. Our country needs to put all energy options back on the table - more drilling, more alternatives, more conservation.

There is a national movement afoot to pass a comprehensive, "all options included" energy plan that returns our energy production back to the United States and creates good paying, American jobs. Now the question is will Speaker Pelosi allow it? So far, her actions indicate she will not.

If Speaker Pelosi ever allows an open and honest energy debate to actually occur, I believe a majority of Republicans and common sense, pro-energy Democrats could work together and develop a new energy policy that increases American production and develops alternatives sources. In the spirit of Daniel Webster, it is time for a forthright debate and action on the House floor that will give the American people a chance to have their voices heard. We must move our nation away from high gas prices and dependence on Middle East oil.

Michigan Needs Good-Paying Jobs

The U.S. Department of Labor recently released its August jobs report, and the report confirms what we in Michigan already know: jobs are getting tougher to come by. The report showed a loss of 84,000 jobs in the United States during August. Our national unemployment rate is now 6.1%, and much higher in many parts of Michigan.

During these tough economic times, Congress needs to work on policies designed to create good-paying jobs and break our dependence on foreign oil. If we can give our workers more opportunities and lower gas prices for families, America will rebound and our economy will start growing again.

In order to do so, Congress must tighten its belt and foster a climate where good-paying jobs can be created. This is common sense. Just as you make sacrifices in your life when money gets tight, Washington, D.C. needs to do the same right now so that our economy can stabilize and grow again.

Unfortunately, leadership in the House is pushing a massive $680 billion tax increase on families and job providers, and I am strongly fighting this ill-timed, bloated bill. Michigan's economic turnaround depends on manufacturers innovating, growing and expanding, and higher taxes will prevent manufacturers from even thinking about growing.

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