PENCE SHOWS TWO SIDES IN WASHINGTON
August 5th, 2008 | by John Good |
Representative Mike Pence from Indiana's 6th District has been leading a charge from the GOP-minority to recall the Congress from its traditional August recess to take a vote on expanding outer-continental shelf oil drilling. Mr. Pence claims that "Congress shouldn't take a vacation until we vote on lessening our dependence on foreign oil".
I agree that Congress should stay in session, but not to consider drilling in the Artic Natural Wildlife Reserve and other environmentally sensitive areas. Congress should be working full time to develop an energy policy that encourages and supports development of alternatives to oil, not more dependence on it. When elected to Congress I will support legislation that encourages the development of oil independence and new industries that will bring "green collar jobs" to the 6th District. Even if we began drilling and found oil, which is never guaranteed, it would have an impact of only a few cents and that impact would not occur until 2018. By that time, American workers could be making the American vehicles of the future. This is one of my top priorities when I am elected this November, creating new jobs from green technologies and affordable renewable energy sources.
I was surprised my opponent has embraced such a bold move as to want Congress in special session, given the 37 times this year he has motioned to adjourn Congress. It seems like the only thing he does want to talk about is more oil, and that is exactly the opposite direction I think we should take. I think we should be talking about what we can do to help individual homeowners make their homes more energy efficient and less expensive to heat and cool. Most important we should be talking to our communities to find out what they need .
That is what I will do, in each of the 19 counties of the 6th District I will hold community meetings to exchange ideas and work together to develop a plan to become oil independent.
Mr. Pence was not willing to help the American people while Congress was in its legislative session, and is still not serious about finding real solutions that will help average Americans cope with skyrocketing energy costs. We Hoosiers are not interested in grandstanding on an issue that should have been resolved earlier in the legislative session.
These are critical times and we need a Congressman who will step up and find answers not sound bytes. As the next Congressman from the 6th District I will work with the next President to find other solutions that do not require us to further pollute the environment and destroy our great natural resources.
Barry Welsh
The House passed this housing-recovery package. 
