NY-26: Chris Lee Calls on Congress To Get Back to Work, Solve Energy Crisis
by Matt at Aug 7th, 2008
The Democratic majority left for their 5-week summer vacation without doing anything to address the ongoing energy crisis. Today, Chris Lee called on Congress to get back to work and solve the problem:
Today, 26th Congressional District candidate Chris Lee called on Congress to get back to work to solve our energy crisis. Late last week, Congress went on a five-week vacation while Western New Yorkers are canceling vacations because of high gas prices. Chris also is gathering signatures for a letter from all Western New Yorkers to Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The letter will outline Western New Yorkers demands to get Congress back to work to achieve a comprehensive solution to lower the cost of gas and break our dependence on foreign oil.
“With record gas prices forcing Western New Yorkers to cancel their vacations, we have a simple message to Congress: End Your Vacation, Get Back to Work, and Solve the Crisis,” said Lee. “We need American solutions to create American energy and American jobs to secure our economic future and lower gas prices. We can achieve energy independence through exploration, conservation, and the development of American-made alternative energy sources.”
In addition, Lee wrote Speaker Nancy Pelosi a letter requesting she bring Congress back in session to hold a vote on ending our addiction to foreign oil by removing the ban on exploring for oil in the United States:
“Today, in New York 26th Congressional District taxpayers are paying on average $4.13 for a gallon of gas. Western New Yorkers need help - with gas prices severely impacting family budgets many Western New Yorkers are unable to afford to go on vacation while Congress is enjoying a five-week vacation. My fellow Western New Yorkers and I respectfully request that you bring Congress back to Washington and get to work for the American people. Congress needs to stop the bickering and work on a bipartisan solution to end our addiction to foreign oil by removing the ban on exploring for oil in the United States.”
Lee also pointed to Governor David Paterson’s recent decision to call back New York State lawmakers for an emergency economic special session starting August 19th where hopefully lawmakers will work together for some real solutions – Congress must do the same.
“As a local businessman, if I ran my company like Congress has been running America’s energy policy we would have been out of business a long time ago,” concluded Lee. “It is time Congress gets to work, and uses the American people’s ingenuity and expertise to help solve our energy problems. More spending and more taxes is not the answer.”
The only real solution for Congress to consider is to lower taxes on business and reduce regulations. Both stifle innovation, exploration and refining capacity.