Treadwell: Dems Promoting Dangerous Policy in Calling for Nationalization of U.S. Oil Refineries

HALFMOON, NY (06/20/2008)(readMedia)-- Sandy Treadwell, Republican candidate for the 20th Congressional District, today called on Democratic leaders in Congress to publically reject a plan by one of their members to nationalize oil refineries in the U.S.

This week, Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), a member of the House Appropriations Committee and vocal opponent of off-shore drilling, said, "We [the government] should own the refineries. Then we can control how much [oil] gets out into the market."

"In response to our current energy challenges, House Democrats are so bankrupt of ideas that they have gone from grasping at straws to seizing industry assets," Treadwell said. "This foolish proposal shows that this Congress has no realistic plan to make our nation energy independent and is responding the way Washington always does - seeking to make government bigger and raising taxes. If this is their best idea on how to handle energy, we should be worried about what's next on their agenda."

Treadwell noted that a county in South Dakota recently approved a plan that will allow the construction of a new refinery, which would be the first one built in this country in more than 30 years. He believes our government should be encouraging and supporting the construction and expansion of privately-held U.S. refineries to boost production and protect national security.

Treadwell has called on Congress and the President to enact a comprehensive, commonsense energy plan that will confront our energy challenges on two fronts: increasing domestic energy production through more drilling and construction of next generation nuclear plants, and providing investments and support for private sector development of alternative energy sources, including solar, biomass, wind, cellulosic ethanol, and biodigesters.

"For 35 years, our government has done little on energy issues and we are now literally paying the price at the pumps," Treadwell said. "Instead of advocating a commonsense plan to make us energy independent, the Democrats are headed in a dangerous direction in calling for nationalization of refineries. We should follow the lead of visionaries like John Kennedy, who showed what is possible when he launched the Apollo program, and do what is necessary to make us energy independent within the next 10 years."

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