Cranberry Township, PA - The house adjourned last night for another vacation week, failing yet again to address the ever-increasing energy crisis.  Jason Altmire keeps touting alleged solutions, but those of us in Western Pennsylvania see no results and his statements are empty promises bringing us nothing more than Washington, D.C. noise.

 

"It has become Altmire's mantra to say he's helping us when in reality he's preventing us from reducing skyrocketing energy costs.  It is disappointing that Altmire let another week pass with out taking up any real solutions to help with our energy problem.  Then he leaves work to leave to go on another week long vacation.  He seems unaware that many families in Western Pennsylvania can't afford to go on vacation for the Fourth of July this year because of the high gas prices.  They are disgusted with their Congressman for his opposition to solutions," said Candidate Melissa Hart, "Altmire is quite out of touch with the priorities of real people in Pennsylvania."

 

There are currently three discharge petitions introduced in the House regarding energy.  If Jason Altmire would listen to his constituents instead of his leaders and sign these, it would help to force an up or down vote on bills that would move America forward to become more energy independent.  (H.R. 3089, H.R. 2279, H.R. 2208)

 

Hart commented, "I am not surprised Altmire has failed to act in signing the discharge petitions.  He fails understand the issue and is blindly following his left coast leadership down the path of their 'no energy' energy policy.  He's been very outspoken against new domestic oil exploration and drilling.  This is to the contrary of what people want and need."

 

She added: "Altmire also voted to enact a ban procuring alternative fuels derived from oil shale, tar sands and coal-to-liquid technology.

 

The only "energy legislation" that was passed this week, will use $1.7 billion in tax dollars for grants to local transit agencies and to subsidize mass transit fares for federal employees.  Altmire supported that subsidy and voted against a motion that would have required the priority for these federal grants instead be given to school districts adversely impacted by the spike in fuel costs.

 

"The longer we wait to implement a solution," Hart added, "the longer it will be until we see relief.  We must have a practical focus on increasing domestic oil supply NOW.  We must also conserve and work on alternative energy solutions for the future.  These policy failures of Altmire and his Washington, D.C. friends in failing to increase domestic energy production are doing America, and especially Western Pennsylvania, a great disservice."

 

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