“Through the thousands of calls, emails and letters sent to my office, I know that my constituents want Congress to take action to avert further economic distress, but south-central Michigan believes Congress must not take action just to take action. The vast majority of my constituents are working hard, paying their bills and making ends meet for their families, and they believe real alternatives exist to running up the bill the government sends to taxpayers.

“While I am pleased some positive reforms have been made to the bill the House rejected on Monday, including a provision to provide greater FDIC protection to Americans and America’s hometown banks as well as the SEC working on reform to mark-to-market accounting, this bill remains a massive, $700 billion taxpayer financed bailout. Additionally, as too often is the case in Washington, unrelated spending items have been tacked on to this bill, including special interest provisions such as millions of dollars for makers of wooden arrows, the Puerto Rican and Virgin Islands rum industry, wool fabric producers and Hollywood movie makers. All of these Washington, D.C. special interest provisions have nothing to do with addressing America’s financial crisis and providing the fundamental reform our economy desperately needs.

“I continue to be disappointed in President Bush and Secretary Paulson for refusing to consider other options and reforms. I cannot support putting future generations of Americans in debt to pay for this expensive band aid that will not solve our long-term economic problems.”

Rep. Tim Walberg, who represents the Jackson County area, voted against the previous bailout measure. His office released an e-mail statement from Walberg on Wednesday night criticizing the approach Washington is taking in dealing with the financial crisis.
“Common-sense reforms exist that could immediately insert new private capital into our markets without putting taxpayers at risk, and I will keep working with my colleagues to push for these important reforms,” said the e-mail from Walberg, R-Tipton. “I continue to be disappointed in President Bush and (Treasury) Secretary (Henry) Paulson for refusing to consider other options and reforms.”

Politico.com reports today that the Senate will consider another bailout proposal tonight. The House of Representatives is scheduled to reconvene Thursday afternoon.

In a written statement, Walberg said the bill was “nothing more than an expensive, taxpayer-funded Band-aid that will not solve our long-term economic problems.” He called for market-to-market accounting, net worth certificates and reducing taxes and regulations that he said prevent capital from entering the market.

Coldwater Daily Reporter:

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, who opposed it, said “While I applaud the efforts of House Republicans to improve this proposal, the bailout bill … is nothing more than an expensive, taxpayer-funded band aid that will not solve our long-term economic problems.”
Walberg continued, in a press release, “I am extremely disappointed in President Bush for refusing to consider other options and for thrusting this legislation on the American people in a way that only created more uncertainty. Secretary Paulson has failed the American people by refusing alternative plans… Today our financial markets face serious challenges that could result in dire consequences, and while Congress can take action to avert further economic distress, Congress must not take action just to take action.”

Jackson Citizen Patriot:

Meanwhile in Washington, U.S. Rep Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, issued a statement calling the $700 million rescue package “an expensive, taxpayer-funded Band-Aid that will not solve our long-term economic problems.”

Lansing State Journal:

Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, said he was “extremely disappointed” in Republican President Bush and said Paulson had “failed the American people by refusing alternative plans.”
Walberg was among conservative Republicans who proposed other measures, including a suspension of the capital gains tax.
“Congress must not take action just to take action,” Walberg said.

Toledo Blade:

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R, Tipton, Mich.) said the bailout was ‘an expensive, taxpayer-funded Band-Aid that will not solve our long-term economic problems.’
Among his proposed solutions, Mr. Walberg advocated lowering capital gains and corporate tax rates ‘to enable American companies to compete, innovate, grow, and expand.’

Congressman Tim Walberg explains his vote against a bailout of the financial services sector on September 29, 2008.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Tim Walberg bailout
Added: September 29, 2008

“These are common-sense reforms that could be put in place right away, if Congress would take time to debate alternative ideas to a taxpayer financed bailout. Instead, our President, the Treasury Secretary and a frenzied media climate have eliminated the possibility of further debate to work on a deal that would protect taxpayers.”

It is evident that the challenges faced by America’s financial markets require action from Congress. Any action taken by Congress must protect American taxpayers and encourage economic growth. We must not take action just to take action.

It is unacceptable for the federal government to just take on $700 billion in speculative debt.  I believe alternatives exist to a taxpayer-funded bailout, and as negations remain ongoing, I am hopeful discussions result in a package that will protect the taxpayers from bailing out irresponsible companies, institute reforms to inject capital into the financial system and include policies to spur economic growth.  What America’s markets need now is liquidity, but presently tax and regulatory barriers are preventing new capital from entering our markets.

Taxpayers should under no circumstances subsidize severance packages for failed CEOs. Additionally, we must increase transparency and accountability on Wall Street. I would like to see audit reports of failed companies to ensure that the financial standing of these troubled companies was accurately portrayed or to see if they cooked their books.

Increasing American energy production and preventing scheduled tax increases are critical for long-term economic growth, no matter what plan is negotiated, and I will continue fighting for my constituents on these issues. Congress also needs to lower the capital gains and corporate tax rates to enable American companies to innovate, grow and expand.

This situation is a clear indication that government regulation did not work because it was not properly implemented. In the coming months, Congress must determine why these regulations did not work and how to ensure they do in the future.

If you took a road trip this summer, you probably noticed that gasoline prices in most nearby states are much lower than they are in Michigan. Currently, gasoline is Metro Detroit is averaging 20 to 30 cents above the national average. Don’t blame OPEC. Blame in part the state’s politicians, who have pushed state taxes on a gallon of gasoline to more than 11 cents higher than the average of the states. Michigan’s total state and federal gasoline tax burden is 60.7 cents. That compares with 46.4 cents in Ohio, 40.9 cents in Kentucky, 50.7 cents in Pennsylvania, 40.2 cents in Minnesota, 56.9 cents in Indiana and 51.3 cents in Wisconsin. Only New York, California, Illinois and Connecticut have higher gasoline taxes.

Just one day after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated Democrats would give in to the demands of pro-energy members of Congress and the American people and lift current bans on offshore and oil shale energy production, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is actively working to keep the current oil shale ban in place. Reid is trying to slip a bill through the Senate containing a provision extending a ban on oil shale. The current ban is set to expire on October 1.

Additionally, according to The Hill, “liberal House Democrats on Wednesday vowed to get a new offshore drilling moratorium enacted early next year, a day after learning they’d lost this year’s battle over an issue that dominated congressional politics for most of the summer.” This news comes just one day after Speaker Pelosi finally caved in after opposing an increase in American energy production for months. Current bans on offshore drilling and oil shale recovery will come to an end on October 1, unless Senator Reid has his way.

America still needs an “all of the above” energy plan with more drilling, more alternatives and more conservation, but expiration of the offshore drilling ban puts America on the right track to ending our dependence on foreign oil. Pro-energy members of Congress on both sides of the aisle will actively work to make sure Senator Reid allows the current moratorium to expire on October 1.

Back in August, I and many of my colleagues stayed down on the House floor, giving speeches in a dark House chamber calling for a vote on increasing energy production. We were encouraged by literally tens of thousands of Americans who called, emailed or personally thanked us and encouraged us in our efforts. The decision to lift the offshore drilling ban is a direct result of the pressure the American people and pro-energy members of Congress put on Speaker Pelosi. I encourage all concerned citizens to continue to respectfully push for an “all of the above” energy plan.  I will continue to do my part and work to expand America’s energy production.

Congressman Tim Walberg today issued the following statement after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated Democrats would give in to the demands of pro-energy members of Congress and the American people and lift current bans on offshore and oil shale energy production.

“After opposing an increase in American energy production for months, Speaker Pelosi finally caved in and current bans on offshore drilling and oil shale recovery will come to an end on October 1. America still needs an ‘all of the above’ energy plan with more drilling, more alternatives and more conservation, but expiration of the offshore drilling ban puts America on the right track to ending our dependence on foreign oil.

“Back in August, I and many of my colleagues stayed down on the House floor, giving speeches in a dark House chamber calling for a vote on increasing energy production. We were encouraged by literally tens of thousands of Americans who called, emailed or personally thanked us and encouraged us in our efforts. The decision to lift the offshore drilling ban is a direct result of the pressure the American people and pro-energy members of Congress put on Speaker Pelosi. We must continue to respectfully push for an ‘all of the above’ energy plan.”

Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, said he “has serious concerns about putting taxpayer dollars on the line for $700 billion.”
He also opposes subsidizing severance packages for company executives.
“This situation is a clear indication that government regulation did not work because it was not properly implemented,” Walberg said in a written statement.

Detroit News:

On the House side, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, said his priorities are “protecting taxpayers, encouraging economic growth and making sure taxpayers are not subsidizing severance packages for failed CEOs.”

In these trying economic times, Congressman Tim Walberg believes a new energy bill that increases American energy production would help all sectors of our economy, help Americans pay less for gas and enable American companies to hire more workers. The Congressman supports an all of the above plan: more alternatives, more conservation, and more drilling, including off American shores.

We will continue to keep you updated on this issue as the week progresses.

Congressman Walberg called in to the Sean Hannity radio show on July 15, 2008 to discuss his efforts to bring down gas prices and pass an "all of the above" energy bill.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: commentary analysis news political commercial walberg
Added: September 19, 2008

Congressman Walberg called in to the Sean Hannity radio show on July 15, 2008 to discuss his efforts to bring down gas prices and pass an "all of the above" energy bill.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: commentary analysis news political commercial walberg
Added: September 19, 2008

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation Thursday to reauthorize a federal program to clean up toxic sediments in rivers and harbors feeding into the Great Lakes and triple its annual appropriations to $150 million annually.

“The Great Lakes are a treasure essential to both Michigan and the entire nation,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton. “… Every day we wait to address the problems in our Great Lakes, they get worse and the solutions get more costly.”

Walberg made the following statement about the bill:

“The Great Lakes are a treasure essential to both Michigan and the entire nation. The lakes hold nearly one-fifth of the world’s surface water and forty-two million people rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water.

“Sadly, our lakes suffer damage every day through untreated sewage, toxic pollutants and aquatic invasive species. Every day we wait to address the problems in our Great Lakes they get worse and the solutions get more costly. This bill will help address many of these problems, and I am pleased to support it.”

Congressman Walberg called in to the Sean Hannity radio show on July 15, 2008 to discuss his efforts to bring down gas prices and pass an "all of the above" energy bill.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Tim Walberg Sean Hannity Energy
Added: September 18, 2008

Congressman Walberg called in to the Sean Hannity radio show on July 15, 2008 to discuss his efforts to bring down gas prices and pass an "all of the above" energy bill.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Tim Walberg Sean Hannity Energy
Added: September 18, 2008

Congressman Walberg called in to the Sean Hannity radio show on July 15, 2008 to discuss his efforts to bring down gas prices and pass an "all of the above" energy bill.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Tim Walberg Sean Hannity Energy
Added: September 17, 2008

Congressman Walberg called in to the Sean Hannity radio show on July 15, 2008 to discuss his efforts to bring down gas prices and pass an "all of the above" energy bill.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Tim Walberg Sean Hannity Energy
Added: September 17, 2008

Jackson Citizen Patriot: “House passes energy bill”

LSJ Blogs - Capitol Journal: “This is not the energy bill you’re looking for”

Over the weekend, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that leading energy Democrat Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), has come out strong against the House Democrat proposal, urging her House Democrat colleagues to vote against it. Sen. Landrieu told CongressDaily: “It’s dead on arrival in the Senate. The Senate will never pass a bill without revenue sharing, in my view.”

Walberg participated several times throughout the three hour protest, sharing stories from south-central Michigan residents and calling for an “all of the above” energy policy. Congressman Walberg supports more drilling, more alternatives and more conservation.

More coverage of Congressman Walberg’s gas can initiative is available below:

Guerrilla Congress: The House GOP is fighting the good fight on energy policy.
By Mark Hemingway

For all the talk about leveraging new technology for political organizing, Congressman Tim Walberg doesn’t see the need to reinvent the wheel to get across his message that gas prices are hurting his constituents back in Michigan.

“We can no longer afford to send our kids to Catholic school,” Walberg says, relaying Beth’s note. “It’s gas or dentistry for my son.” Walberg wraps up his speech on the floor of the House, invoking shades of his former career as a minister by paraphrasing no less an authority than Moses: “Madam Speaker, let my people vote!” Walberg says to a thunderous standing ovation.

Congressman Walberg made the following comments on the possibility of Golden Parachute severance pay:

“Taxpayers are already being forced to pay for the mistakes of the scandal-ridden Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lending institutions, and the last thing we need to do is reward the individuals who oversaw the corruption and failure of these institutions. As any student in a basic accounting course could tell you, these CEO’s have egregiously mismanaged Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and used Enron-like accounting techniques to make earnings look billions larger than they actually were. Taxpayers should not reward these failed managers for their mistakes.”  

More information:  CAGW, Battle Creek Enquirer, Jackson Citizen Patriot

Even with the lights dimmed and microphones off, Congressman Tim Walberg, along with a number of other lawmakers, gave millions of Americans a voice by staying in Washington, D.C. throughout the month of August to protest Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to go on a five week vacation. Walberg and his colleagues shared stories with tourists and guests on the House floor and in the gallery, while call for a vote on an all of the above, comprehensive energy plan. Walberg shared his thoughts on the protest in this August 4th interview.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Tim Walberg House protest energy gas prices Speaker Pelosi
Added: September 10, 2008

Even with the lights dimmed and microphones off, Congressman Tim Walberg, along with a number of other lawmakers, gave millions of Americans a voice by staying in Washington, D.C. throughout the month of August to protest Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to go on a five week vacation. Walberg and his colleagues shared stories with tourists and guests on the House floor and in the gallery, while call for a vote on an all of the above, comprehensive energy plan. Walberg shared his thoughts on the protest in this August 4th interview.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Tim Walberg House protest energy gas prices Speaker Pelosi
Added: September 10, 2008

Congressman Tim Walberg appeared on CSPAN's Washington Journal program on June 11, 2008 to discuss his actions to pass a bill increasing American energy production.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Tim Walberg Energy CSPAN Gas Prices
Added: September 10, 2008

Congressman Tim Walberg appeared on CSPAN's Washington Journal program on June 11, 2008 to discuss his actions to pass a bill increasing American energy production.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Walberg Gas Prices Energy Tim CSPAN
Added: September 10, 2008

Congressman Tim Walberg appeared on CSPAN's Washington Journal program on June 11, 2008 to discuss his actions to pass a bill increasing American energy production.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Tim Walberg Energy CSPAN Gas Prices
Added: September 10, 2008

Congressman Tim Walberg appeared on CSPAN's Washington Journal program on June 11, 2008 to discuss his actions to pass a bill increasing American energy production.

Author: WalbergPress
Keywords: Tim Walberg Energy CSPAN Gas Prices
Added: September 10, 2008

According to its website, Starr Commonwealth is a nationally recognized children and family services nonprofit licensed by the States of Michigan and Ohio and accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children.  The organization serves more than 4,000 children, families and professionals through strength-based residential and community-based programs in Albion, Battle Creek and Detroit, Michigan and Van Wert and Columbus, Ohio.  Services range from specialized treatment programs, treatment foster care, day treatment, mental health therapy, substance abuse and private therapeutic residential treatment.  Starr also offers a variety of training for professionals working with youth.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

“It’s not my place to take credit for creating a job,” Walberg said. “Politicians generally take more credit than is due them. That’s a sad fact of what politics has become.”

Walberg said legislators can play a role in leveling the playing field to make a state competitive with others, and that is done, he said, by lowering taxes and getting rid of red tape.

“The U.S. Department of Labor recently released its August jobs report, and the report confirms what we in Michigan already know: jobs are getting tougher to come by. The report showed a loss of 84,000 jobs in the United States during August. Our national unemployment rate is now 6.1%, and much higher in many parts of Michigan.

“During these tough economic times, Congress needs to work on policies designed to create good-paying jobs and break our dependence on foreign oil. If we can give our workers more opportunities and lower gas prices for families, America will rebound and our economy will start growing again.

“In order to do so, Congress must tighten its belt and foster a climate where good-paying jobs can be created. This is common sense. Just as you make sacrifices in your life when money gets tight, Washington, D.C. needs to do the same right now so that our economy can stabilize and grow again.

“Unfortunately, leadership in the House is pushing a massive $680 billion tax increase on families and job providers, and I am strongly fighting this ill-timed, bloated bill. Michigan’s economic turnaround depends on manufacturers innovating, growing and expanding, and higher taxes will prevent manufacturers from even thinking about growing.”

With the knowledge that there are many families with love to share and many children who need it, a Hillsdale couple is spreading roots in Hillsdale, creating a diverse family of nine.

The institute will honor the Hambletons, along with more than 180 Angels, at an awards ceremony and gala event Sept. 16 in Washington, DC.

Congressman Tim Walberg continued his “Harley Tour” across Michigan’s Seventh Congressional District on Thursday. The Congressman is riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle across south-central Michigan this week to highlight how high gas prices are affecting local communities. On Thursday, he made stops in Adrian, Jackson, Charlotte and Coldwater.

One of the Congressman’s stops was in Jackson. From the Jackson Citizen Patriot:

“Walberg, R-Tipton, toured two Jackson County medical facilities Thursday hoping to inform area medical officials about his legislation that would provide families with health-care tax credits and create health savings accounts.

“Accompanied by U.S Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Tevi Troy, Walberg strolled through Great Lakes Home, Health & Hospice and Allegiance Health’s Heart Center and stressed the importance of having quality health care available in the Jackson community.”

Congressman Walberg spent time pumping gas for constituents in Albion.

Congressman Walberg chats with local residents in downtown Marshall.

Congressman Walberg visits the Marshall Chamber of Commerce.

Congressman Walberg at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall.

Congressman Walberg visits with a constituent at Quality Dairy in Charlotte.

Congressman Walberg on a walking tour of Grand Ledge with Mayor Kal Smith and other local residents.

Congressman Walberg at Pettit Hardware Store in Eaton Rapids.

Congressman Walberg speaks at the Demmer Corp. in Delta Township.

At one of his stops yesterday, Congressman Walberg pumped gas for constituents in Dexter (pictured above). During the week-long tour, the Congressman will make 27 scheduled stops, tour 11 communities, meet with dozens of local officials and community leaders, tour 8 businesses, meet with 5 local clubs/organizations/governments and pump gas at 3 different gas stations. Throughout the tour, the Congressman will highlight his efforts to pass a comprehensive, “all of the above” energy plan that includes more oil drilling, more alternatives and more conservation.

Congressman Walberg also stopped yesterday in Manchester (pictured above) and visited with business leaders and local residents. Throughout the day on Monday, Walberg made stops in Manchester, Chelsea, Dexter, Saline, Tecumseh, Adrian and Blissfield.

Today the Congressman will be in Delta Township, Grand Ledge, Eaton Rapids and Charlotte.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, today kicked off a week-long motorcycle tour through all seven counties of Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.

Walberg’s tour is meant to highlight how gas prices are affecting local communities in his district, according to a press release, and his Harley Davidson motorcycle is a fuel-efficient way to travel.

“I am really looking forward to this week,” Walberg said in the release. “I love riding my Harley and greatly enjoy meeting with my constituents. We need to do something to bring down gas prices, and I look forward to sharing my ideas and hearing from the people of south-central Michigan.”

Walberg is expected to make 27 scheduled stops, tour 11 communities, tour 8 businesses, meet with 5 local clubs, organizations and governments, and pump gas at three different gas stations.

Changes in energy policy would have an almost immediate affect on high fuel prices, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg said Monday at the Adrian City Commission meeting.

If the country developed a comprehensive energy policy that implemented drilling, conservation and a variety of energy sources, Walberg said, it would provide “some significant relief for the present and the future.” This could be done in a bipartisan fashion, he said.

However, recent news reports indicate that the Sierra Club, an environmental group that opposes increasing American energy production, supports the Pelosi energy plan and is encouraging its members to “thank House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for standing up to drilling supporters.”

It is reasonable to conclude, based on the above connection, that the final Pelosi plan will not include any new domestic energy exploration. Instead, the plan will likely include language to tie up oil drilling in court, higher taxes to discourage production and fail to open any significant areas to new drilling.

This morning’s New York Times reported that 62 percent of respondents to a recent poll sponsored by the newspaper and CBS News favor increasing energy production far off our nation’s shores.

Additionally, a story in today’s Wall Street Journal highlighted new polling the newspaper conducted with NBC News indicating strong support for the same “all of the above” energy plan Congressman Tim Walberg supports.

Here is an excerpt from the story:

“Voters are crying out for more solar and wind energy – but that doesn’t mean they are opposed to drilling for more oil at the same time, according to a Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll…”

“According to the Journal-NBC poll, 72% of the respondents said developing alternative energy sources could ‘accomplish a great deal…’”

“When asked whether expanding areas for drilling for oil off coastal states was a step in the right direction, 63% said it was…”

“Asked about building more nuclear plants, 53% said it was a step in the right direction…”

“‘Voters are telling us they want everything,’ said Neil Newhouse, a Republican who conducts the poll with Democrat Peter D. Hart.”

Jackson drivers headed to the pump today might get some help filling their tanks from a high-profile politician.

He also planned to discuss energy policy he has been pushing that would permit drilling in Alaska and on the Outer Continental Shelf and invest in new refineries, as well as wind, natural gas and nuclear power.

Jackson drivers headed to the pump today might get some help filling their tanks from a high-profile politician.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg was planning to take on the role of a gas station attendant and fuel up constituents’ vehicles at the Citgo gas station at 1502 Cooper St.

Walberg wasn’t picking up the tab, so gas customers were still going to have to pay, but they could voice frustrations about the high prices to the first-term congressman/temporary attendant.

Walberg planned to ask drivers to jot down stories about their struggles with climbing energy costs and collect their receipts in 5-gallon gas cans that he will take to Washington.

He also planned to discuss energy policy he has been pushing that would permit drilling in Alaska and on the Outer Continental Shelf and invest in new refineries, as well as wind, natural gas and nuclear power.

Over the past seventeen days, Speaker Pelosi has begun to shift her position on domestic oil drilling. On Saturday, Pelosi delivered the Democrat Party’s weekly radio address and unveiled her latest so-called “energy plan.” While she now claims to embrace a comprehensive energy plan that includes more conservation, more innovation and more American energy production, the Speaker’s latest plan is really just a combination of all the failed gimmicks she has been pushing for the past few weeks.

According to the Wall Street Journal, her plan “doesn’t allow drilling off California or the eastern coast of Florida.” Also, “just a few weeks ago, the House speaker said Republican calls for a vote just on drilling was ‘a hoax on the American people.’”

Even as Pelosi continues to shift her views as the political winds blow, there is growing evidence that the American people do not support her plans. According to the Washington Times, “it is clearly Mrs. Pelosi who is playing the rhetoric/propaganda game with the American people and they are not buying it. According to the latest Rasmussen poll, 61 percent of Americans want Congress to reconvene and lift the ban on offshore drilling. Moreover, 67 percent said they believe the Republicans are on the right side of the issue.”

Congressman Tim Walberg weighed in on the Pelosi energy plan this afternoon:

“If Speaker Pelosi is really serious about ending the partisan gridlock on energy policy, she would end her book tour and call Congress back to Washington for a debate. I have been to Washington already during this break to speak out on energy policy, and I am more than willing to head back. Speaker Pelosi is the only person in America who can call the House back to session for an energy debate. Recently, we’ve seen how tenuous America’s global energy position is. Our reliance on foreign oil makes our country dependent on people like Vladimir Putin, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chavez, which weakens America’s national security. It is time for Speaker Pelosi to use her power, call the House in to session and begin a debate on long-term energy policy. I believe such a policy must increase American energy production, increase alternatives and increase conservation.”

The picture above may be humorous, but for anyone filling up with gas this summer it hits close to home. With family and community budgets at their breaking points because of high gas prices, Speaker Nancy Pelosi adjourned the House to go on a book tour.

Politics aside, families across America are going to continue to pay high prices if the Speaker refuses to allow even a debate on this issue.  South-central Michigan families are already being greatly affected.

As Congressman Tim Walberg said yesterday, “Speaker Pelosi is the only person in America who can call the House back to session for an energy debate.” If you believe Congress should be in session debating energy policy, call Speaker Pelosi’s office at (202) 224-3121 and let her know what you think.

As Investor’s Business Daily editorialized yesterday, “Russia’s aggression is not only about toppling a pro-Western democracy and potential NATO member. It’s about the only pipeline bringing Caspian Sea oil to the West not controlled by Moscow or Iran.”

Further in the editorial: “One of the Russian targets in Georgia is a pipeline carrying oil from the Caspian to the West. …. the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, in which British Petroleum is the lead partner, can carry up to a million barrels of oil a day. It runs from Kazakhstan through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and breaks Russia’s stranglehold on supplying energy to Europe. Moscow currently supplies 25% of Europe’s energy needs.

“Another pipeline, the South Caucasus Pipeline, will carry natural gas along the same route. It has a capacity of 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas a year and is needed to get Turkmenistan’s vast natural gas reserves to European customers.”

Congressman Tim Walberg has previously discussed how America’s reliance on foreign oil makes our country dependent on people like Vladimir Putin, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chavez, which weakens America’s national security. The situation in Georgia is another example of this dependence.

Instead of supporting or even allowing a vote on a comprehensive, “all of the above” energy plan that includes more oil exploration, more alternatives and more conservation, the Speaker and other Democratic leaders continue to oppose increasing American energy production.  Instead of real energy solutions, House Democrats continue to find new gimmicks to push.
Their latest is releasing the emergency oil reserves in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The SPR is a tool of national security policy, not energy policy, and was never intended to be used to bring down oil prices during election years. Any oil removed would not be there if a true emergency were to take place.

Instead of working on real energy solutions, Speaker Pelosi and her faithful followers would rather compromise America’s national security and deplete our emergency oil reserves. Making America completely dependent on Hugo Chavez and Vladimir Putin is not an energy plan and would weaken America’s national security.

This is another silly gimmick that does nothing to increase energy production, instead it just depletes an emergency energy source. This short-term, questionable action would divert attention from a long-term, comprehensive energy plan. We need to work on real solutions that increase American energy production, increase alternatives and increase conservation.

- Rep. Tim Walberg

……But there are three “truths” masquerading as fact among drilling opponents that need to be challenged:

• Drilling is pointless because the United States has only 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves. This is a misleading because it refers only to known oil reserves. According to the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS), while there are an estimated 18 billion barrels of oil in the off-limits portions of the OCS, those estimates were made using old data from now-outdated seismic equipment. In the case of the Atlantic Ocean, the data were collected before Congress imposed a moratorium on offshore drilling in 1981. In 1987, the MMS estimated that there were 9 billion barre