What’s More Important, Congressional Fundraising or National Energy Issues?13 Feb
The U.S. Congress spends far more on time fundraising at the expense of developing policy for environmentally safe, affordable energy to maintain a secure national economy. Here are two headlines that make the point about fundraising:
“It’s estimated that members of Congress spend anywhere from 30 to 70% of their time fundraising.”
“A PowerPoint presentation to incoming freshmen by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, obtained by The Huffington Post, lays out the dreary existence awaiting these new back-benchers. The daily schedule prescribed by the Democratic leadership contemplates a nine or 10-hour day while in Washington. Of that, four hours are to be spent in “call time” and another hour is blocked off for “strategic outreach,” which includes fundraisers and press work. An hour is walled off to “recharge,” and three to four hours are designated for the actual work of being a member of Congress — hearings, votes, and meetings with constituents.”
If there were Congressional campaign fund raising limits, members of that august body would have far more time to address important energy issues, such as:
The low level of proved U.S. oil reserves
Potentially unsafe U.S. nuclear power plants
Declining U.S. oil production (i.e., Peak Oil)
Escape from crude oil dependency
The futility of crude oil conservation in the United States
Exporting U.S. oil products: Selling America’s energy security
Marginal growth of U.S. wind and solar technologies
U.S. military and clean energy
And…saving the best till last, Global warning
Tags: Congressional Fundraising, Energy Conservation, Energy Issues, Energy Policy, Export Home Heating Oil, Export of Gasoline, Global Warming, Home Heating Oil, Nuclear Power Plants, Solar Energy, Wind Energy