By Brandon Wilson
Cherokee Tribune Staff Writer
U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-Roswell) is fueled up to find energy solutions.
Price, who represents Georgia's Sixth District, which encompasses all of Cherokee and parts of Cobb, Fulton and DeKalb counties, faces Democratic challenger Bill Jones of Marietta, in the Nov. 4 general election.
"Eighty percent of Americans support some sort of increase in domestic energy supply," Price said.
He said he senses a bill will be brought to the floor with a "wonderful title," but full of earmarks, a tax penalty for domestic oil production and "it won't do anything to significantly increase supply."
"What we've asked, what we've demanded, is that (Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi) allow a bill come to the floor and actually have the process work, where people can offer amendments, debate the amendments, vote up or down. I trust the product if the process is correct. So, hopefully, that will happen," Price said.
Price supports a three-pronged "comprehensive solution" to the energy issue, encompassing conservation, alternative fuels and increasing the domestic supply, which means onshore and offshore exploration, the use of oil shale and the use of clean coal technology.
To critics who say there is not enough oil in places such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to make a significant difference on supply or world oil cost, Price said scientists should be given the opportunity to "lift up the chicken and see" if there is an egg.
Price said, in addition to reserves off the coast of Alaska and the southeastern United States, "there are huge reserves off western Florida," off the state of California and the northwestern U.S., as well as "huge opportunities for production of utilization of coal, oil shale."
"All of those things have to go into the mix," Price said.
Price and others Republican representatives are taking a stand to have a comprehensive energy bill heard in Washington, even after Ms. Pelosi (D-Calif.) adjourned the House session on Aug. 1. In what has been called a speak-in, representatives from the House of Republican Conference are voicing energy solutions without microphones in the dimmed, recessed House floor.
On other issues, Price, who is seeking his third term in November, said he wants all Americans to have health insurance - but not in the way the Democrats want.
He said he supports efforts to help Americans afford insurance through such financial incentives as tax credits and refundable credits, rather than presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's plan of having "the federal government buy it for you."
As for the housing market crisis, Price said he believes it is best to "make sure the borrower and lender communicate and work toward a solution."
"More than 50 percent of people who were foreclosed on never even contacted his or her lender to talk about it," he said, adding the solution is "financial literacy."
On Iraq and the military, he said he thinks the United States is "clearly in a better position now" and that the Iraqi government will request America's presence in Iraq as the country moves forward.
Comment on this Story
Posted Comments