Published: 07-29-08
Texas Democrat Puts Own Publicity before Lower Gas Prices
Washington- For more than a year Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX) has opposed efforts to bring the “No More Excuses Energy Act of 2007” to a vote in Congress. While Lampson was behaving like a lapdog to partisan Democrat Leaders gas rose to $3.85 in Texas. With the November election less than 100 days from now Lampson is playing political games with America’s energy future and his actions threaten to leave Americans with no energy solution before Congress adjourns for a month-long vacation in August.
Rather than support the No More Excuses Energy Act as a comprehensive energy bill to increase the supply of American oil Lampson is playing games by introducing a similar bill with his name at the top so he can generate publicity for his campaign.
Lampson claims in today’s Fort Bend Now that “Drilling alternatives and everything in between must be on the table” yet he voted in Congress to block a bill that would open new oil refineries on military bases (House Roll Call 435) and voted to exclude coal-based fuel from a bill that would help alternative fuels become compatible with existing energy infrastructure (House Roll Call 91).
Also in his fervor to duck behind political cover Lampson has completely reversed his position on America’s strategic petroleum reserve. Just over a year ago Nick Lampson co-sponsored a bill to increase the capacity of the strategic petroleum reserve by 500 million barrels (H.R. 2396). But after receiving pressure from Speaker Pelosi Lampson aligned himself with Democrats seeking political cover by selling petroleum from the reserve despite the negligible effect on gas prices (H.R. 6578).
“It’s shameful that while Americans are paying more at the gas pump and demanding Congress increase America’s oil supply Nick Lampson is trying playing political games to promote himself and his campaign” said NRCC Spokesman Ken Spain. “It’s time for Nick Lampson to show bi-partisan support for the No More Excuses Energy Act and put Texans ahead of his own craven political interests.”
Nick Lampson if he was the leader on energy Texans in the 22nd District need he would jump on board with Republicans’ real energy solutions. Instead Lampson has chosen to seek political cover with liberal Democrat Speaker Pelosi.
