Press Release - As Dewine Provides Giveaways To Oil Companies, Brown Announces Plan To Lower Energy Prices
As Dewine Provides Giveaways To Oil Companies, Brown Announces Plan To Lower Energy Prices
"Ohio could be Silicon Valley of alternative energy"
AKRON - While Mike DeWine and the GOP Congress continue to pass legislation that increases the nation's addiction to oil, U.S. Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH) met today with small business owners to discuss solutions to the nation's energy crisis. In July 2005, Mike DeWine voted for a Republican energy bill that provided billions of dollars in giveaways to the oil and gas companies. That month, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Ohio was $2.23. Today, that price is more than $3.00.
"Mike DeWine voted for an energy bill that gave billions to oil companies while Ohio drivers were left to foot the bill," said Brown. "Small businesses are feeling the burn of rising energy prices as a greater share of their budget is dedicated to fuel and heat. This year, Mike DeWine again voted to reward his big oil buddies by supporting increased drilling instead of providing Ohio consumers and businesses with the relief they deserve."
Oil companies have contributed at least $330,000 to Mike DeWine. DeWine supported legislation that rewarded the oil and gas companies which reported record profits. Oil companies are currently making $1,300 a second at the pump. The average two-car family in Ohio will pay about $1,500 more for gas this year than they did when DeWine took office six years ago. Higher energy costs are driving up prices for consumer products - costing families an additional $1400 a year.
"Instead of allowing the oil companies to draft legislation, I'll take immediate action to provide Ohio families with relief," said Brown. "We must protect consumers from price gouging and eliminate the billion dollar taxpayer subsidies to big oil companies." Exxon Mobil reported that it reaped the second highest quarterly profits of any U.S. corporation ever for quarter two of 2006.
Brown advocates for investment in alternative energy and renewable fuels to boost Ohio's economy and bring energy prices down. He supports advancing research for new energy sources like hydrogen, wind, solar, and biomass that could put America on a path to energy independence.
"Ohio has the capacity to become the Silicon Valley of alternative energy," said Brown. "From a hydrogen plant in Akron to a biorefinery in Lima, Ohio can be at the center of our fight to wean the U.S. off of foreign oil."
http://sherrodbrown.com/press/releases/477/