WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration's energy plan will make the U.S. economy more dependent on oil and was designed to help oil companies, not the American public, Sen. John Kerry (D-IA) (pictured) said Monday.
Kerry, a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2004, fired the opening salvo in what was expected to be a bitter, partisan fight this winter over a national energy policy that is a legislative priority for both parties.
According to a Reuters report yesterday, Kerry said the White House has not offered an agenda for energy independence but instead wants to help energy companies like Enron. The Houston-based firm, which had close ties to several Bush administration officials, ranked as the world's biggest energy trader before it filed for bankruptcy.
``Old thinking passed through the doors of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue far more often and easily than new thinking,” Kerry said in a speech before the Center for National Policy. The center is a nonprofit group headed by former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta. “Exxon Mobil, Enron or Chevron enjoyed an access bonanza at the expense of consumers.''
The Senate, which returns from its holiday recess on Wednesday, is scheduled to begin debate next month on a Democratic-sponsored energy bill.The Democrats prefer keeping the Arctic wildlife refuge closed and instead develop more renewable energy and implement energy conservation measures.
According to Reuters, the Teamsters Union has told President Bush it is close to getting the 60 Senate votes needed to add language to the energy bill opening the refuge and block a threatened filibuster by Democrats. The Teamsters back drilling because of the high-paying union jobs it would create. Kerry is one of several Senate Democrats who have vowed to filibuster to death any bill to allow drilling in the refuge.
Government estimates say the refuge may hold up to 16 billion barrels of oil. The United States must import more than half the 20 million barrels of oil per day that it consumes. But Even if the Arctic refuge was opened to drilling, it would not be at full production for some 20 years, Kerry said.
``Obviously we all agree that reducing our dependence on foreign oil, especially oil from the politically toxic Middle East, is a necessity,'' Kerry said. ``But the American people want honesty about how you do it, not a false security blanket that promises something undeliverable in the short term and precious little amounting to real progress in the long term.”
Calling for an increase in mileage requirements for SUV’s and minivans, Kerry said if the entire Bush energy plan was implemented, the United States by 2020 would be more dependent on foreign oil than it is now. Foreign oil accounts for 60 percent of U.S. petroleum consumed today.
The Bush administration has sought to link opening the Arctic wildlife refuge to national security, saying new domestic sources of crude oil are essential to U.S. interests. The House last year approved a broad energy bill that would give oil companies access to the Arctic refuge as well as more than $33 billion in tax breaks and incentives.
