Even Some Republicans Want Oil Independence for America
Feeble Fuel Economy Proposal Falls Short
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REPA (Republicans for Environmental Protection) has issued another strong news release. Here is a suggestion to REPA from The Progress Report -- instead of being a small group of Republicans who are hated for your wise long-term views on the environment, why not join the Green Party and be praised for your wise long-term views on the environment? The Green Party will welcome and respect you much better than any other party. |
Changes in light truck fuel economy standards proposed by the U.S. Transportation Department fall far short of steps needed to reduce America's dangerous dependence on oil, REP America, the national grassroots organization of Republicans for environmental protection, said.
"At a time when America must take aggressive steps to reduce oil dependence significantly, the proposal's estimated gasoline savings, less than 1 percent of current consumption, are paltry to the point of irrelevance," said David Jenkins, government affairs director of REP America. "This feeble proposal represents failed leadership. It is another troubling sign that the administration refuses to take the dangers of oil dependence seriously. At a time when gasoline prices are skirting $3 per gallon, what will it take for the Bush administration and for Congress to wake up?"
"The more dependent we are on oil, the more exposed our economy becomes to price shock, the more entangled the United States becomes in the world's trouble spots, the more political pressure increases to drill our nation's finest wilderness areas, the more carbon dioxide we emit, and the more risks we take with global warming," said Jim DiPeso, policy director of REP America.
"We need to get off the oil dependence treadmill, we need to do it fast, and we need to start now. The single most important step we can take is to boost fuel economy standards significantly. Unfortunately, the Transportation Department's weak proposal shows that Washington lacks the will to face up to the problem and help solve it," DiPeso said.
REP America supports a substantial increase in motor vehicle fuel economy standards to at least 36 miles per gallon, which would save an estimated 2 million barrels of oil per day, about 10 percent of current consumption.
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Also see: Ridiculous-Sounding Group Makes Sensible Statement
Patriotism Means Ending U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil |
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