The argument is elementary. A scarce commodity will demand a higher price until demand is met by increased supply. This is the argument used by the U.S. Executive and Congress to promote the Great Ethanol Fraud, a cynical, zero-sum political give-away program to transform one vital commodity (food) into another (fuel). However, when the true renewable industry tries to transform the unused "commodities" of wind and sunshine into energy, it is fought tooth and nail.
    Obviously, it would be good for the United States to bring its immense wealth of renewable energy online. This flood of additional energy would have a dramatic effect of lowering fossil fuel prices as the transition to an electric economy progresses. But the U.S. government consistently and deliberately obstructs this transition by maintaining a grossly inadequate financing environment for the significant capital expenditures necessary to stimulate the build-up of a renewable energy infrastructure - all the while encouraging the rapid depletion of our remaining petrochemical reserves (estimated at only 2% of global supply) as if no future generations of Americans (or our military) will ever need them.
    Just drill, suck and sell until it's gone.
    This does not make sense.
    The reason for this is simple. In addition to the Executive, the oil industry has bought a substantial segment of the U.S. Congress, known as the Republican Party, to make sure the United States remains an oil economy enabled by a taxpayer-funded but industry-directed military. As a former Republican and Central Committee member, it is clear to me that these individuals are complicit in what is essentially the overthrow of the United States government - from one based on a constitutional democracy to one run through proxy by industry, for the goals and profits of those industries and to the detriment of U.S. citizens, the economy and needs of future generations.
    Any Jeffersonian patriot would be outraged by the abdication of responsibility by the Republicans. Luckily for them, our constitution provides for a peaceful revolution every four years where traitors can be removed without bloodshed. Hopefully, this will work one more time.
    Our democratic process is threatened not just by corporate control of the executive and legislature, but by massive and massively-financed oil industry disinformation campaigns. The press release that follows is a stunning and disturbing example of how the oil industry now manipulates not only the popular will, but the U.S. government itself  through its proxies in Congress. In the right column, it is illustrative of how easy it is to buy congressional influence by viewing the oil industry's influence as a bloc and noting their proxy's voting record.
    Highlighted are Koch Industries' association with Bill Koch, who sought to destroy Cape Wind, the first U.S.offshore renewable power plant; Exxon, which consistently derides renewable energy and climate change from anthropogenic sources; and Exxon (again), BP and Chevron, who have recently received no-bid contracts for Iraq's oil, along with Anadarko and Hunt. The New York Times reports that these agreements cover Kirkuk field (Shell), Rumaila (BP), Al-Zubair (ExxonMobil), West Qurna Phase I (Chevron and Total), Missan province development (Shell and BHP Billiton) and the Subba and Luhais fields (Anadarko, Vitol and the UAE's Dome). Also included from the list pre-approved by the Iraqi government are ConocoPhillips, Hess, Marathon, and Occidental Petroleum.
    This is not the incidental result of an altruistic desire to spread democracy. It is military-industrial imperialism, rationalized below by the dangerous and deluded proxies of Big Oil who have worked so purposefully  to obstruct the development and implementation of inherently peaceful renewable energy - and by so doing have placed entire nations, populations and even civilization at risk for fool's black gold.

"International oil companies, without exception, are very pragmatic commercial organizations. They don't have a theology."
Philip Carroll, former CEO of Shell Oil USA
Secret US Plans for Iraq's Oil   BBC (UK)  

     KEY: Members of the House Republican Study Group
              (partial list)

    1) Career contributions from Big Oil, largest donors first
    2) Big Oil’s Republican proxy and their proxy’s voting record
    3) Rating by Campaign for America’s Future
    4) Rating by League of Conservation Voters
    5) Rating by Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington
    5) Vote on The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008
 

"We no longer have a country. We don't have a republic any more.
...They managed to destroy the United States - why? Because they're oil and gas people and they're essentially criminals."
Gore Vidal
'The US is Not a Republic Anymore'
PressTV (IR)   June 30, 2008

"[John MaCain thinks] Americans are so stupid — so bloody stupid — that if you just show them wind turbines in your Olympics ad they’ll actually think you showed up and voted for such renewable power — when you didn’t."
Thomas Friedman
Author and New York Times columnist
Eight Strikes and You’re Out
The New York Times     August 12, 2008

The Republican Study Group
press release

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

GOP conservatives: Democrats' record is one of blocking U.S. energy supply.

The following energy policy brief was prepared by the Republican Study Committee, a group of over 110 House Republicans organized for the purpose of advancing a conservative social and economic agenda in the House of Representatives.

    In light of rising crude oil prices, the resulting spike in gas prices, and the continued reliance on energy supplies from unfriendly or unstable regions of the world, the RSC has prepared the following policy brief summarizing the Democrat pattern of blocking attempts to increase the supply of American energy and actively promoting policies that would make American energy less available, more expensive, and thus less affordable for poor and middle class Americans.
    It's basic economics. When demand exceeds supply, the price goes up. One way to bring the price back down when worldwide demand is soaring-or to at least slow the rate of the increase-is to increase supply. Despite these widely understood realities, Democrats continue to speak ill about gas prices yet do ill about energy supplies. Even more disconcerting is the Democrat unwillingness to increase American energy supplies, as they block proposal after proposal aimed at allowing more energy supplies to be extracted from the American and Canadian ground, yet assert that OPEC should be sued for not increasing its exports. The logic simply does not work.
    Like it or not, petroleum is the backbone of America's transportation energy today. If you need an ambulance to get you to the hospital, it won't be fueled by wind-powered batteries. If a school teacher needs to drive to work, her car's engine won't run on solar. And if a businessman needs to fly overseas on short notice, his plane won't get off the ground using biofuels. Alternative energy sources may be more prevalent and economical far in the future, but for now and perhaps decades to come, if America wants to increase or even just maintain its standard of living, if America wants to stay ahead of the rapidly developing economies in Asia and elsewhere, then America needs petroleum-and lots of it.
    Most people understand that petroleum does not grow on trees. It's deep in the ground, and it doesn't come up by itself. It's in some parts of the world and not others. To get more petroleum over time, it's necessary to get it from more places.
    The good news is that America is teaming with untapped petroleum resources-trillions and trillions of barrels. This point is not debatable. The bad news is that Democrats believe that whether such energy resources should be recovered is debatable. As demonstrated below, Democrats have not just been neutral on increasing American energy exploration, extraction, and refining-they have opposed it. Such Democrat energy intransigence comes at the expense of the poor and middle class.

Party Differences.
    Below are some examples in recent years of House Republican actions to increase energy availability, the House Democrat agenda to restrain energy availability, and House Democrat proposals that contradict their own positions on energy.

What Republicans Have Done to Increase Energy Availability

ANWR.
    For more than a decade, Republicans have proposed allowing energy exploration and extraction in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), where initial surveys show the presence of massive amounts of petroleum-upwards of a million barrels a day.
    On January 4, 2005, Rep. Don Young (R-AK) introduced a bill (H.R. 39) to repeal the prohibition against the production of oil and gas from ANWR and any leasing or development leading to such production.

    On April 21, 2005, the House passed a bill (H.R. 6) by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) to allow oil and gas leasing in ANWR. 90% of Republicans voted for the bill, while 80% of the Democrats voted against it. The provision was removed before the bill was signed into law.
    On October 6, 2005, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 4004) to repeal the prohibition against the production, leasing, and development of oil and gas from ANWR. Rep. Paul has reintroduced the legislation in the 110th Congress (H.R. 2415).
    On May 23, 2006, Rep, Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) introduced a bill (H.R. 5462) to direct the Bureau of Land Management to establish an oil and gas leasing program in ANWR and conduct two lease sales there before October 1, 2010.

    On May 25, 2006, the House passed a bill (H.R. 5429) by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) to repeal the proscription against the production or leasing of oil and gas resources from the ANWR and to provide extensive environmental safeguards for such production. 87% of Republicans voted for the bill, while 86% of the Democrats voted against it.

    On July 26, 2006, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) introduced a bill (H.R. 5890) to repeal the prohibition against production of oil and gas from ANWR and any leasing or development leading to such production.
    On July 18, 2007, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 3089) to repeal the prohibition against producing oil and gas from ANWR.
    OCS. Republicans have also consistently proposed expanding energy exploration and extraction on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), the lands under the waters surrounding the United States, most of which are statutorily off limits to energy development. Reports indicate that such expansion could yield 86 billion barrels of oil.
    On February 17, 2005, Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-WY) introduced a bill (H.R. 907) to allow easements or rights-of-way for energy and related purposes on the OCS for otherwise prohibited activities when such activities support exploration, development, production, transportation, or storage of oil, natural gas, or other minerals.
    On April 13, 2005, Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-LA) introduced a bill (H.R. 1596) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to grant a lease, easement, right-of-way, license, or permit on the OCS for activities not otherwise authorized under existing law, if those activities support or promote exploration, development, production, transportation, or storage of oil, natural gas, or other minerals.
    On April 21, 2005, the House passed a bill (H.R. 6) by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to grant, on either a competitive or noncompetitive basis, a lease, easement, or right-of-way on the OCS for activities not otherwise authorized under current laws, if those activities support exploration, development, production, transportation, or storage of oil, natural gas, or other minerals. 90% of Republicans voted for the bill, while 80% of the Democrats voted against it. These provisions were retained in the final version of the bill signed into law, and a provision was added to direct the Secretary of the Interior to inventory, analyze, and report to Congress on oil and natural gas resources beneath all of the waters of the OCS.
    On September 15, 2005, Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 3811) to terminate any prohibition on the expenditure of federal funds to conduct oil and natural gas leasing and preleasing activities anywhere on the OCS and to terminate all withdrawals of federal OCS land from leasing activities.
    On September 27, 2005, Rep. John Peterson (R-PA) introduced a bill (H.R. 3918) to terminate any prohibition on the expenditure of federal funds to conduct natural gas leasing and preleasing activities anywhere on the OCS and to terminate all withdrawals of federal OCS land from leasing for exploration for, and development and production of, natural gas. Rep. Peterson introduced a similar bill (H.R. 4318) on November 15, 2005.
    On October 6, 2005, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 4004) to terminate any prohibition on the expenditure of federal funds to conduct oil and natural gas leasing and preleasing activities anywhere on the OCS and to terminate all withdrawals of federal OCS land from leasing activities. Rep. Paul reintroduced the bill (H.R. 2415) in the 110th Congress.
    On November 7, 2005, Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA) introduced a bill (H.R. 4241) that contained a provision terminating the effect of all existing federal laws prohibiting the spending of appropriated funds to conduct oil and natural gas leasing and preleasing activities for OCS areas. The provision was omitted from the version of the bill that passed the House.
    On May 18, 2006, Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) offered an amendment (H.Amdt. 842) to strike sections of the Interior Appropriations bill that prohibit the expenditure of funds for OCS oil leasing activities in certain areas. A majority of Republicans voted for the amendment, while Democrats overwhelmingly voted against it.
    On June 29, 2006, the House passed a bill (H.R. 4761) by Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) to greatly increase energy development on the OCS, including a prohibition on more than 25% of the acreage of any OCS Planning Area being withdrawn from leasing more than 100 miles from any coastline. 86% of Republicans voted for the bill, while 79% of Democrats voted against it.
    On July 18, 2007, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 3089) to terminate all existing federal laws prohibiting expenditures to conduct oil and natural gas leasing and preleasing activities on the OCS.
    On August 3, 2007, Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS) introduced a bill (H.R. 3435) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to inventory oil and natural gas resources beneath the waters of the OCS, other than those in the Gulf of Mexico or off the coast of Florida. The Secretary would have to make available for oil and natural gas leasing all such inventoried areas.

Oil Shale, Tar Sands, Heavy Oil, and Coal-to-Liquids.
    Petroleum is no longer just available from reservoirs. It can be extracted from rocks (shale) and sands, which are abundant throughout North America. Some observers have described the United States as the Saudi Arabia of oil shale, with about 1.8 trillion barrels of oil recoverable from U.S. shale. Tar sands are also plentiful, with 11 billion recoverable barrels in the U.S. and far more in our ally to the north-Canada.
    Additionally, there are nearly 100 billion barrels of heavy oil (a thicker crude oil) in the U.S., and America's voluminous coal resources could allow coal-to-liquid production (making diesel and jet fuels from gasified coal) without affecting the coal supply for electricity.
    Republicans believe that America as a nation should do all it can to promote the development of all of these newer sources of raw materials with which to make fuels right here in America-to make conventional what is now unconventional.
    On February 9, 2005, Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) introduced a bill (H.R. 681) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to issue separately, for the same area, a lease for tar sands and a lease for oil and gas.
    On July 28, 2005, the House passed a conference report (H.R. 6) led by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) to instruct the Secretary of the Interior to make available for leasing public lands in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming in order to conduct research and development of technologies for the recovery of liquid fuels from oil shale and tar sands. The legislation also contained various other provisions encouraging the increased development of oil shale and tar sands, including evaluating and mapping U.S. oil shale and tar sands deposits and instructing the Defense Department to procure fuel derived from U.S. coal ("coal-to-liquids"), oil shale, and tar sands 90% of Republicans voted for the conference report, while 80% of the Democrats voted against it.
    On November 18, 2005, the House passed a bill (H.R. 4241) by Rep. Jim Nussle (R-IA) that contained a provision facilitating the commencement of oil shale and tar sands leases.
    On June 27, 2007, Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) offered an amendment (H.Amdt. 452) to the Interior Appropriations bill to carve out Utah and Wyoming from certain restrictions on oil shale development. 91% of Republicans voted for the amendment, while 89% of Democrats voted against it.
    On March 31, 2008, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 5656) to repeal Section 526 of the major energy bill of 2007 that prohibited federal agencies from procuring fuels made from unconventional petroleum sources.

Refining.
    Republicans have consistently proposed making it easier for the private sector to expand capacity at existing petroleum refineries-or to build entirely new ones. Gasoline doesn't come from the ground; it comes from the refining process. If America wants more of it and other fuels, America must remove as many impediments to increased refining as possible.
    On April 21, 2005, the House passed a bill (H.R. 6) by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), which included, among other things, provisions to prescribe guidelines for the designation of refinery revitalization zones and the coordination and expeditious review of permitting process for such zones. 90% of Republicans voted for the bill, while 80% of the Democrats voted against it. Subsequent iterations of the legislation included tax incentives for refinery investment.
    On September 20, 2005, Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) introduced a bill (H.R. 3836) containing a variety of provisions to expedite federal permitting procedures for construction or expansion of domestic petroleum refining facilities.
    On September 22, 2005, Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) introduced a bill (H.R. 3887) to direct the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Defense, to jointly designate three closed military installations as suitable for constructing oil refineries and to prohibit the federal government, for two years, from selling or disposing of any such designated site except for purposes of oil refinery construction.
    On September 27, 2005, Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) introduced a bill (H.R. 3924) to revise the tax deduction for certain liquid fuels refinery property to allow expensing of the entire cost of such property if the property allows for a production capacity increase of five percent or more on an average daily basis; and to allow, in lieu of such expensing deduction, a five-year recovery period for the depreciation of such refinery property.
    On October 6, 2005, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 4004) to provide additional tax incentives for investment in oil refineries. Rep. Paul reintroduced the legislation in the 110th Congress (H.R. 2415).
    On October 7, 2005, the House passed a bill (H.R. 3893) by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) that included a variety of provisions aimed at facilitating the siting, construction, expansion, and operation of refineries. 94% of Republicans voted for the bill, while 100% of Democrats voted against the bill.
    On June 20, 2006, Rep. Ron Lewis (R-KY) introduced a bill (H.R. 5653) to extend the election to expense the construction of oil and unconventional fuel (including oil shale and coal-to-liquids) refineries until 2016. Rep. Lewis reintroduced the bill (H.R. 683) in the 110th Congress.
    On July 18, 2007, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) introduced a bill (H.R. 3089) to provide for increased expensing of refinery property and direct the President to designate at least ten sites for oil or natural gas refineries on federal lands and make such sites available to the private sector for refinery construction.

What Democrats Have Done to Restrain Energy Availability

ANWR.
    Democrats have consistently blocked all efforts to allow energy exploration and extraction in ANWR, despite the fact that such activity already occurs in wildlife refuges across the country without destroying the affiliated ecosystems.
    On February 2, 2005, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced a bill (H.R. 567) to designate oil-rich lands within ANWR as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, thus erecting another barrier to energy extraction there. Rep. Markey has reintroduced the legislation in the 110th Congress (H.R. 39).
    On April 20, 2005, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) offered an amendment (H.Amdt. 72) to H.R. 6 to strike the provisions of the underlying bill allowing oil and gas exploration in ANWR. 85% of Democrats voted for the amendment, while 87% of the Republicans voted against it.

OCS.
    Democrats have also consistently blocked efforts to expand energy exploration and extraction on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), despite the success of current OCS operations and the feasibility of recovering what is now off-limits.
    On April 21, 2005, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) introduced a bill (H.R. 1798) to prohibit leasing for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral in either the Mid-Atlantic or the North Atlantic planning areas of the OCS. Rep. Pallone reintroduced the bill (H.R. 777) in the 110th Congress.
    On February 16, 2006, Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) introduced a bill (H.R. 4782) to prohibit oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in areas of the OCS located off the coast of California and to exclude such areas from the OCS inventory required under current law. Rep. Capps reintroduced the bill (H.R. 2918) in the 110th Congress.
    On May 4, 2006, Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) introduced a bill (H.R. 5300) to repeal the existing law requirement for a comprehensive inventory of OCS oil and natural gas resources. Rep. Hinchey reintroduced the bill (H.R. 586) in the 110th Congress.
    On April 19, 2007, Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) introduced a bill (H.R. 1957) to prohibit the conduct of oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in OCS areas located in the North Aleutian Basin Planning Area and to exclude such planning area from a mandated inventory of OCS oil and natural gas resources.
    On June 15, 2007, Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) introduced a bill (H.R. 2758) to prohibit oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in areas of the OCS located off the coast of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte Counties in the state of California and to exclude such areas from the mandatory inventory of OCS energy reserves.
    On April 24, 2008, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) introduced a bill (H.R. 5861) to prohibit oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in certain areas of the OCS off the coast of Florida.
    Oil Shale, Tar Sands, Heavy Oil, and Coal-to-Liquids. Democrats have consistently blocked expanding the development of "unconventional" petroleum resources, despite their promise to deliver more fuels from American sources to meet today's energy demands, while decreasing the need to import oil from unstable and unfriendly nations.
    On December 7, 2006, Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA) introduced a bill (H.R. 6417) to repeal the tax credit for producing fuel from a nonconventional source.
    On June 27, 2007, Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) offered an amendment (H.Amdt. 448) to the Interior Appropriations bill to prohibit funds in the bill from being used to prepare or publish final regulations regarding a commercial leasing program for oil shale resources on public lands or to conduct an oil shale lease sale. 88% of Democrats voted for the amendment, while 93% of Republicans voted against it.
    On June 27, 2007, the House passed the Interior Appropriations bill (H.R. 2643) introduced by Rep. Norman Dicks (D-WA), which included a provision to prohibit the use of funds to prepare or publish final regulations regarding a commercial leasing program for oil shale and tar sands resources on public lands or to conduct an oil shale lease sale pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. 98% of Democrats voted for the bill, while 76% of Republicans voted against it.
    On August 4, 2007, the House passed a bill (H.R. 3221) that includes a prohibition on surface occupancy for oil or gas exploration or development purposes in each lease for certain federal lands on the Roan Plateau in Colorado. 96% of Democrats voted for the bill, while 86% of Republicans voted against it.
    On December 18, 2007, the House passed a bill (H.R. 6), now current law, that prohibits federal agencies from procuring fuels made from unconventional petroleum sources, aimed at stopping the Defense Department's plan to procure fuels derived from Canadian oil sands.

Refining.
    Democrats have consistently blocked all efforts to make it easier to expand petroleum refining. Instead, the Democrats have done all they can to restrain refining, and thus choke the supply (and increase the price) of fuels nationwide.
    On November 18, 2005, Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-VT, who caucused with the Democrats) introduced a bill (H.R. 4420) to repeal, among other things, the tax incentive from the Energy Policy Act of 2005 allowing a taxpayer to expense 50% of the cost of certain crude oil refinery property placed in service before January 1, 2008.
    On April 27, 2006, Rep. John Larson (D-CT) introduced a bill (H.R. 5234) to repeal tax incentives from the Energy Policy Act of 2005 relating to expensing of crude oil refinery property and exemptions from limitations on oil depletion deductions for certain small crude oil refiners.

How Democrats Have Contradicted Their Own Positions on Energy

Suing OPEC.
    Time and again, Democrats have lambasted the oil companies, criticized the Bush Administration's close relationships with oil-exporting nations in the Middle East, denounced America's reliance on petroleum, argued for and enacted mandates on alternative fuels and bio-additives to petroleum-based fuels, and complained of oil's negative effects on the environment.
    Yet-on two occasions this Congress (H.R. 2264 and H.R. 6074)-they moved legislation allowing OPEC to be sued in U.S. courts for not supplying enough oil or providing such oil at a low enough price (which of course would increase consumption).
    So which is it? Do Democrats want less oil or more oil? Or perhaps they just want less American energy and more Middle Eastern energy.

Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
    Democrats have consistently contested the basic economic reality that increased supply of a product helps push prices downward. As demonstrated throughout this Policy Brief, Democrats have fought efforts to increase the supply of petroleum and its refined products and have dispelled Republican assertions that increased energy development (in ANWR, on the OCS, etc.) would help alleviate high gas prices.
    Yet just this month, Democrats moved a bill (H.R.6022) to suspend acquisitions for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, claiming that doing so would help lower gas prices.
    So, stopping a 70,000-barrel-a-day contribution to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (which of course also has national security implications) will help lower gas prices, but allowing energy development in ANWR, which could yield one million barrels of petroleum a day would not affect gas prices? Again, which is it?

 But Wait-There's More!
    Adding insult to injury, besides ongoing efforts to prohibit the expansion of domestic supplies of petroleum and coal-based fuels, the Democrats proposed and passed through the House, as one of their signature items in their first few weeks of the majority in 2007, a bill increasing taxes on the domestic manufacturing of petroleum (H.R. 6). Democrats voted in near-unison for it, as if increasing taxes on American companies will somehow increase the production, the pricing, and the global competitiveness of such companies.
    Then the Democrats followed that punch at America's energy with a gas-price controls bill (H.R. 1252) that attempted to micromanage the market for gasoline. Democrats again voted in near-unison for it, arguing that nothing solves a problem faster or better than the federal government.

Conclusion.
    It is clear that the Republican approach to energy is "more American energy now," while the Democrat approach to energy is to foreclose all new domestic supplies of energy America needs today. Republicans have repeatedly demanded action to prevent inevitable energy shortages, but Democrats continue with their no-new-energy agenda, putting the American people in grave danger of real reductions in their standard of living.

$1,201,311 Andarko Valero Exxon El Paso Koch Occidental American Gas Assn Devon Enterprise Products Halliburton Tenaska Chevron
Oil & Gas Producer Williams Pickens BP Interstate Natural Gas Assn Sunoco Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers National Propane Gas Assn Burlington Resources Marathon Petro-Hunt Shell Kerr-McGee Dynergy Moncrief ConocoPhillips Tesoro Seneca Pitts Petroleum Marketers Assn Bass Brothers DaVoil XTO Taylor National Fuel Gas Kinsey Western Refinery H&H FMC Technologies Enron El Paso Atmos Intl Assoc of Drilling Contractors Coastal MJ Harvey Atlantic Richfield Western Refining Mid-Continent Beecherl Seely Independent Petroleum Assn Mitchell Phillips Peoples McN AGL ONEOK American Petroleum Institute Moran Natural Gas Partners Southwestern Andrews & Foster Petroleum Consultant Pitts Petrogrowth Advisors MJH McMoran Hunt Frontier National Petroleum Chemical Refiners Courson Kinder Morgan Canada-Anadarko Texaco Snyder Oil & Gas Crown Consolidated Natural Gas Maguire Longhorn Cano Oil Producer Quintana Washington Gas Light Preston Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Pioneer Key Texas Alliance of Energy Producers Pel-Tex Ocean Energy Nicor KN New England Gas ICC Independent Oil Producer H&H Flint Hills Enervest Five States Energy Energen Falcon Seaboard Chesapeake Energy Management Columbia Gas Transmission Cody Columbia Energy Group Belmont Ashland Amerada Hess
Joe Barton (TX-06) Supported the oil industry in 100% of selected votes.
Ranking Minority Member on the Energy & Commerce Committee
"We are all, we on the Republican side, are very willing to work with our Democrat counterparts if they really want to help America's energy future."
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Vague Law and Hard Lobbying Add Up to Billions for Big Oil    NYT    Mar 26 2007
 Voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.

$567,585 Andarko El Paso Williams Devon Exxon Independent Petroleum Assn Occidental Marathon Koch
Oil & Gas Producer Burlington Eighty-Eight Halliburton Oil & Gas ChevronTexaco BP Frontier Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Smokey Kerr-McGee Chevron Shell Questar Western Gas Yates True Drilling Sinclair McMoran Exploration Barrett American Gas Assn Valero Range Legacy ConocoPhillips Oil Producer Ashland Oil & Gas Exploration TransMontaigne McMurray Oil Tesoro Wyoming Refining Sinclair McMurry Enron Coastal Benson Mineral True Bill Barrett National Fuel Gas M&K Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Assn AtlanticRichfield Interstate Natural Gas Assn El Paso Dynergy Tom Brown
Texas Petrochemicals Southwestern Seneca Quality Petroleum Assn Nielson Nerd Gas
Oil & Gas Exploration Hunt National Ocean Industries Assn Goldstone Ferguson Barrett Resources
Barbara Cubin (WY-At Lg) Supported the oil industry in 100% of selected votes.
“Like most of my colleagues, I support extending tax credits for wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass projects."
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.

$554,014 Koch Valero Exxon Pickens Occidental Hunt Beecherl Thompson Oil & Gas Investments Moncrief Independent Petroleum Assn Halliburton Legacy Ashland Oil & Gas Producer Anadarko Verdad Oil & Gas BP Marathon El Paso Maquire ChevronTexaco Pitts TRT Holdings Lyco Pitts MJ Harvey ConocoPhillips Coastal Mack Enron Walter Exploration Sedona Ranparr Petro-Hunt Enterprise Products Partners Hunt American Gas Assn Seegers Penson National Propane Gas Assn Meeker Manti Interstate Natural Gas Assn Gulf Eagle Devon Dallas Production Chesapeake Bevo Belmont Bass Brothers Lucas Shell Roff Phillips Ocean Energy Burlington TXU Walter Vaughn Tenaska Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Schmidt Rosewood Preston Oil Investments Mosbacher Moran J Cleo Thompson Blessing Hill Development Aurora Atmos
Pete Sessions (TX-32) Supported oil in 90% of selected votes.
“For current gas price relief and long-term energy independence, Congress must increase supply by opening domestic resources to energy production and decrease demand by prioritizing energy efficiency and alternative, renewable energy development. The prosperity of our nation and its economy depends on it.”
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$492,490 Yates Mack Koch Exxon Valero PNM
Independent Petroleum Assn Occidental Oil Producer Strata Najavo Refining Marathon Oil & Gas Investor Veteto Zia Energy Burlington Harvard ChevronTexaco Devon Chesapeake Anadarko Heyco Brewer ConocoPhillips Oil & Gas BP American Gas Assn Abo Yates Drilling Williams Halliburton Petroleum Engineer David Kerr-McGee Elliot Conoco Lynx Sun Valley Western Refining Lucky Services GIANT Oil & Gas Exploration Westall
Sun-West Torch Energy Advisors Myco Landreth Hansen El Paso Chevron Beecherl Laurelind National Ocean Industries Assn Bc&D Strata Shackelford Oil & Gas/Ranching Merrion Xcel Unocal True Drilling Standard Oil Field Supply Smokey Shell Reid Quintana Phillips Petroleum Marketers Assn Oxley Oil & Gas Consultant Newfield MJ Harvey Natural Gas Partners Eighty-Eight Interstate Natural Gas Assn Beecherel Investments Ballard
Steve Pearce (NM-02) Supported the industry in 100% of selected votes.
Rated by CREW as one of the 22 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (Sep 2007)
"I don't know anybody who drives a wind car. I don't know anybody who drives a solar car."
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$441,918 Wagner & Brown Oil & Gas Exploration Oil & Gas BTA Valero Oilfield Scharbauer Mid States Chisos Koch Scythian Petroleum Strategies Clayton Well Testing Halliburton Williams Energy Stanolind Oil & Gas Producer ConocoPhillips Patterson-Uti Drilling Uno Mas Landman Charles Rogers Walsh Phillips Casing Exxon First Permian Chevron Earl M Craig Jr McClure John M Hendrix Henry  Occidental Mayne & Metz Collins & Ware Petrodata San Saba Adobe Richard Williams RK Williams Independent Petroleum Assn Discovery Independent Oil Operators & Rancher Eastland Fasken Oil & Ranch D&B Independent Oil & Gas Key Uno Mas Runyan Reliance Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Assn Marathon Independent Oil Independent Oil Operator Oil & Gas Investments Oilman Atmos Independent Oil & Gas Producer XTO White Star Petroleum Penwell Patterson Oil Key National Ocean Industries Assn Kerr-McGee Independent & Petroleum Engineer ChevronTexaco Chesapeake Anadarko
Mike Conaway (TX-11) Supported the oil industry in 91% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
 Voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.

$379,850 Williams Oil & Gas Koch Valero
Chesapeake Syntroleum ConocoPhillips Kerr-McGee ONEOK Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Vintage Sunoco Phillips Petroleum Marketers Assn Devon Lawson Helmerich & Payne Anadarko  Chevron Occidental Exxon American Gas Assn Oxley Parker Drilling
Interstate Natural Gas Assn Halliburton El Paso Independent Petroleum Assn Harrell BP Marathon ChevronTexaco Ashland Serdrilco Ward National Ocean Industries Assn National Propane Gas Assn Loves Arrow
John Sullivan (OK-01) Supported oil in 91% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$355,000 Exxon Occidental Bass Brothers Koch Pickens Hunt Thompson Smith Beecherl MJ Harvey El Paso Chevron American Gas Assn Atmos Pitts Rancher Burlington AG Hill Enron BP Chesapeake Oil & Gas Industry Mesa Halliburton Five States ConocoPhillips Williams Oil & Gas Producer Valero TXU Texaco Petroleum Delivery Shell Marathon Oil & Gas Exploration McN Interstate Natural Gas Assn Hutchison Hill ChevronTexaco
Sam Johnson (TX-03) Supported the oil industry in 90% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)

$333,522 Oil & Gas Oilman Oil & Gas Investments
Van Operating Valero Oil Distributor Valero Brg
Oil Distributor Jones Management Exxon Koch Occidental
Oil & Gas Production Rip Griffin Truck Centers El Paso Chesapeake Oil Man
Cf Jacobs Ce Jacobs Investment Oil & Gas Aspect Earle M Craig Jr Atmos Momentum Oil & Gas Producer Oil & Gas Exploration Moran Big Tex Crude Ballard Enterprise Products Partners Walter Wagner & Brown SOCO SK Rogers Mewborne Independent Landmen Gulf Mayne & Mertz ConocoPhillips Energy Investor Pickens Oil Well Servicing Miller Kidd Oil Field Service ChevronTexaco Oil Investments Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Rutherfod Oil & Gas Operator Oil Business Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Assn LPC Crude Independent Petroleum Assn
Independent Oil & Gas John H Hendrix Independent & Petroleum Engineer Halliburton Enervest Management Chevron BP Beecherl Bass Brothers
Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) Supported the industry in 82% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 9% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$330,547 Valero Petroleum Engineer Koch Exxon
Oil & Gas Wb Osborn Oil Barrett Brothers MJ Harvey
Oil Producer Concord Independent Oil Producer TXU El Paso
French Wagner & Brown Tesoro Oil Investor Oil/Rancher Oil Distributor MJH Earle M Craig Jr Ultramar Gas Station Owner Texaco San Antonio Gas & Oil Tetco Pure  Oil & Gas Producer Occidental Marathon King Ranch Halliburton JR Butler ConocoPhillips
Lamar Smith (TX-21) Supported the oil industry in 91% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$285,855 Oil & Gas Valero Petroleum Geologist Independent Oil Producer Philcon ConocoPhillips Medders
Oil Operator Cambridge Oil & Gas Producer Eagle Birdwell Oil
Oil Producer Oilman-Rancher Independent Oil & Gas Producer Chevron Stephens Engineering Phillips Marathon Investments Oil & Gas Bevo Birdwell Roach Oil & Gas Operator Hunt El Paso ChevronTexaco Burlington BP Anadarko H&L TXU Walsh & Watts Texaco Oil & Gas Contractor O’Neal Oil & Gas Production Halliburton Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Assn Exxon Independent Petroleum Assn Devon Dual Drilling Coastal Brg
Mac Thornberry (TX-13) Supported the oil industry in 91% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$271,300 Chesapeake Koch Valero Devon Exxon Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Oil & Gas
Kerr-McGee Williams Mack Arrow Occidental ConocoPhillips Anadarko Oxley Ward Halliburton Cantrell Oil & Gas Production Marlin Chevron American Gas Assoc Phillips ONEOK Mustang Flowers Cummings Post Oak Burlington Syntroleum Sw Jack Drilling Stream Quintin Little Quiktrip Opc Holdings Petroleum Marketers Assn Marathon National Ocean Industries Assn Jma Ashland
Tom Cole (OK-04) Supported the oil industry in 90% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.

$261,111 Koch El Paso Enterprise Products Vanco Moran Marathon Big 6 Drilling Halliburton BP Anadarko Oil & Gas Exxon Conoco Roff Shell Chevron Williams Valero Occidental Enron McDermott Burlington Quintana Frontier Afex TSP ConocoPhillips Texla Seneca FMC Ocean Energy  Dynergy C&C Mosbacher Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Trifinery AtlanticRichfield Roy M. Huffington Phillips IRI Oil & Gas Consultant NorAM Hunt Davis Oil Producers Contour Consultant Oil & Gas Cockspur Coastal Alcorn
John Culberson (TX-07) Supported the oil industry in 91% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.

$230,250 Magnum Oil & Gas Rental Occidental Exxon
Koch Valero Major Equipment Taylor W&T Offshore Halliburton C&C Central Crude Marathon Oil Operator El Paso TMR Exploration Petroleum Helicopters Chevron Petroleum Geologist WPM Exploration  Versabar
Atco Investment McDermott ConocoPhillips BP Explore Enterprises Williams Kinder Morgan Shell Manti Jack Lawton Global Interstate Natural Gas Assn ChevronTexaco Independent Petroleum Assn Burlington Diamond Tank Rentals Anderson Woods Petroleum Engineer Moore BJ Services McMoran Petroleum Marketers Assn Devon
Oil & Gas Executive Kerr-McGee Gas & Oil Consultants Atmos Danos & Curole Marine Ashland American Gas Assn Anadarko
Bobby Jindal (LA-01) Supported the oil industry in 89% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)

$229,901 Exxon Hauptman Retamco Ballard Chevron Koch Oil & Gas Distributor Marathon Independent Petroleum Assn Petroleum Engineer Devon MJ Harvey Burlington Davis-Lynch BP Nance American Gas Assn  Lone Mountain Occidental National Propane Gas Assn Halliburton Smokey Conoco Transmontaigne Tesoro Sinclair Phillips Hancock Petroleum Marketers Assn ConocoPhillips Klabzuba Eighty-Eight Ashland Unocal Pilot True Drilling Pickens Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers ChevronTexaco
Oil Producer Coastal Interstate Natural Gas Assn
Denny Rehberg (MT-At Lg) Supported the industry in 82% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$227,450 Oil & Gas Chesapeake Kerr-McGee Devon ConocoPhillips Valero Koch Fremont Independent Petroleum Assn Marlin Williams Sunoco Mack Exxon Occidental Ward Post Oak
ONEOK Chevron BP Anderson Truck Stops Sooner Cummings Oil Marathon Landman Cleary Arrow American Gas Assn
Mary Fallin (OK-05) Supported the industry in 83% of selected votes.
 Voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.

$207,000 Valero El Paso Anadarko Koch Chevron Shell ConocoPhillips Occidental Exxon McDermott Halliburton Marathon Burlington Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Assn Devon Gasoline Wholesaler Independent Petroleum Assn TXU American Gas Assn Enron Cabot Bass Brothers Weatherford Tesoro Seneca Phillips Mosbacher Mitchell Coastal Big 6 Drilling
National Fuel Gas Dynergy National Propane Gas Assn Conoco BP Apache XTO Unocal Texaco Pumps of Houston Pool OMI Petrolink McMoran Kerr-McGee FMC Cooper Cockspur
Kevin Brady (TX-08) Supported the oil industry in 100% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.

$198,545 Koch Murfin Drilling Occidental Exxon Range
Ritchie Exploration Berexco National Petrochemical & Refiners Assn
Jerry Moran (KS-01) Supported the oil industry in 91% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 10% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$189,600 Koch Devon Kerr-Mcgee Champlin Williams Valero Chesapeake Mustang LO Ward Oil ConocoPhillips Exxon
Post Oak American Gas Assn ONEOK Ward Phillips Serdrilco El Paso Society of Independent Gas Marketers Malson Oil & Gas Investments Anadarko
Oil & Gas Production Rockford Oil & Gas Exploration Marlin Oil & Gas Engineer Mack Love’s Halliburton Enron Burlington Beckham Bass Brothers Arrow
Frank Lucas (OK-03) Supported the oil industry in 89% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.

$173,813 Oil & Gas Mustang Drilling Martin Gas Petrofac Mewbourne Newfield Exploration Koch Valero Oil & Gas Investments Chesapeake Gryphon Oil & Gas Producer El Paso Lake Ronel Bevo Beecherl R Lacy Pickens TRT Holdings Landman Petroleum Distributor Gryphon Martin Resources Mgt Exxon Dallas Production Cabot Atmos Oil & Investments Anadarko Bistate Oil Mgt Hunt Oil & Gas Exploration
ConocoPhillips Bass Brothers Chevron American Oilfield Engineers
Louie Gohmert (TX-01) Supported the oil industry in 82% of selected votes.
Rated 17% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
 Voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.

$170,667 TransMontaigne Exxon Davis-Lynch Benson
Leede Evergreen Schaffer El Paso Anadarko Texon ConocoPhillips Independent Petroleum Assn Bill Barrett Bear Paw Anschutz Action National Fuel Xcel Williams Western Shell Phillips Petroleum Marketers Assn Leed Koch Halliburton Frontier Chevron Rim Paladin Schaeffer Western Oilfields Occidental Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Marathon Oil Operator Hamilton Devon Conoco Coastal BP Ashland
Tom Tancredo (CO-06) Supported the industry in 82% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$169,799 Exxon El Paso Koch St Anselm Valero Transmontaigne Williams Chevron Anadarko Davis-Lynch
Oil Producer Aspect Management Legacy Kerr-McGee Benson Shell Chesapeake Oil Industry Devon Oil & Gas Production Occidental Oil & Gas Exploration Leed Independent Petroleum Assn Anschultz Oilfield Petroleum Marketers Assn Evergreen Kinney Delta ConocoPhillips ChevronTexaco Bwab Ashland
Marilyn Musgrave (CO-14) Supported the industry in 82% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$167,411 National Fuel Gas Reid Occidental Koch Noco American Gas Assn Somerset Independent Petroleum Assn Sunoco Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Valero Exxon Kerr-McGee
BP National Propane Gas Assn El Paso Consolidated Natural Gas Ashland Griffith American Petroleum Institute FW King Shell Pro Petroleum Marketers Assn Marathon King Frances Hess Interstate Natural Gas Assn ConocoPhillips
Tom Reynolds (NY-26) Supported oil in 82% of selected votes.
Rated 10% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)

$167,100 Koch Pickens Oil & Gas Valero Hunt Exxon
El Paso Anadarko Occidental Vaughn Enerquest Seegers Legacy Beecherl Bass Brothers Ashland US Operating Hyperion Oil Business Mewbourne Maguire Independent Petroleum Assn ConocoPhillips Petroleum Geologist Cendero American Gas Assn Lyle XTO Oil & Gas Production Lucas National Propane Gas Assn MJ Harvey Oil Gas Station Owner Falcon Five States Energy Seaboard Devon Courson Andrews & Foster Drilling
Jeb Hensarling, Chairman (TX-05) Supported oil in 82% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 5% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)

$161,518 Exxon Sempra Chevron Koch
Society of Independent Gas Marketers Clean Energy Fuels
Independent Petroleum Assn Texaco National Propane Gas Assn
Occidental AtlanticRichfield Halliburton Valero American Gas Assn Paramount
Williams TXU Sunoco Signal Shell Pilot Phillips Dynergy Anadarko
Brian Bilbray (CA-50) Supported the oil industry in 86% of selected votes.
 Voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.

$148,450 Exxon Ricker Johnson Keil Brothers Valero Petroleum Marketers Assn G&G Marathon BP Ashland Herdrich Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Aspect Management Shell Occidental National Oil & Gas Sempra Phillips Koch Oil & Gas Producer Halliburton National Ocean Industries Assn ConocoPhillips Independent Petroleum Assn
Mike Pence (IN-06) Supported the oil industry in 82% of selected votes.
Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Rated 10% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
 Voted NO on tax incentives for renewable energy. (Feb 2008)

$147,206 Exxon Energen Hollar El Paso Chevron
Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers USX Koch
Alabama Oilmens Assn National Propane Gas Independent Petroleum Assn Hag