ACU CALLS FOR CONGRESS TO FOLLOW KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON’S LEAD ON ENERGY BILL

              The American Conservative Union (ACU) has praised Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) for holding up energy legislation that it says would set U.S. federal energy policy back 30 years and threaten our energy security.

              ACU Executive Vice President Bill Lauderback said Hutchison, by placing a “hold” on sending the bill to a House-Senate conference committee, has given the congressional leadership and the Bush Administration time to step back and realize how much damage this bill would do to our energy policy in its present form.

              “Senator Hutchison stood up to pressure from supporters who wanted to steamroll this bill through Congress,” Lauderback said.  “She is absolutely right in saying that increased taxes, biofuels mandates and reducing incentives for oil and gas production would lead to lower domestic production and even higher gasoline prices than we already have.  Nothing could be scarier on this Halloween than the prospect of passing this bill.”

              Lauderback said Congress and the White House should take this time to re-examine other regressive provisions in the bill, such as price controls which could lead to shortages and 1970s style gas lines and mileage standards that would force automakers to make lighter cars which have proved to reduce passenger safety.

              “We call on every member of Congress who believes the American people deserve an energy policy that will meet their needs for the 21st Century to join Senator Hutchison and stop the steamroll,” Lauderback said.  “Frankly, in our judgment, that means scrapping this terrible legislation and drafting a new bill that encourages domestic production and eliminates increased taxes and mandates."

###