Treadwell Statement

HALFMOON, NY (09/17/2008)(readMedia)-- The following is a statement from Sandy Treadwell, Republican, Independence and Conservative Party candidate for the 20th Congressional District, on a vote of the House of Representatives last night (Sept 16) on energy legislation.

"Last night, Kirsten Gillibrand and the Democrats in the House of Representatives passed an energy bill that simply will not produce more energy. Their plan is a complete sham. Allowing drilling where there is no oil is nothing more than a fool's gold election year gimmick.

"The bill adopted last night will prevent states from collecting royalties from oil companies that drill off their coasts. That is a poison pill and Congresswoman Gillibrand knows it. This bill would never result in more offshore drilling and it was never intended to. It is a deceptive plan meant to fool voters a month and a half before Election Day.

"Despite it being the number one concern of Americans, this Congress has done nothing to address our nation's energy crisis. For months, Democratic leaders have used every trick at their disposal to block expanded drilling in offshore areas like the Outer Continental Shelf, which is estimated to have at least 18 billion barrels of oil and 76.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. In the process, they have offered sound-byte proposals that are designed more to get their members through the next election than to solve the energy crisis our country faces.

"We need this Congress to take energy issues seriously. We need a realistic plan to expand drilling so that we can produce oil in the continental United States and off our coasts, helping us to cut back on the amount of expensive oil we import from foreign nations. Oil imports account for more than 70 percent of our energy consumption and cost us nearly $2 billion a day. As countries like China and India grow their economies and increase world demand for oil, gasoline prices and home heating bills will continue to rise. That is why we need a comprehensive, commonsense energy policy.

"This is just more "business as usual" for the 110th do-nothing Congress, where public relations and the next election are higher priorities than enacting sound, sensible policies. In the end, these political games will not lower prices at the pump or in home heating bills. It's another disappointing example of Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand voting with the Washington establishment and putting her political needs ahead of the interests of her constituents."

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