Senators, What Have You Done for Us Lately?

As for McCain's idea of nuke power and his view that if France does it it is ok...but then he makes fun of the French...check out what is happening to Frances Nuclear power plants-
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3555240,00.html

Oh and a nuclear power plant costs three times more then a oil refinery and takes about a year to build...McCain wants to build 45 of them, we already have more then any other nation...and where do we put the waste? In Yucca Mountain with a fault line running right under the mountain? McCain is a panderer and a blowhard.A Liar.

That story about the guard makeing the sign of the cross with his sandal...well at Christmas time he had an ad where he again told that story, but it was with a stick that time. It is also told by Solzhenitsyn in his book The Gulag Archepelago.

terra

What has the Senators done?

Obama-

Renewable Fuels: Obama has worked on numerous efforts in the Senate to increase access to and use of renewable fuels. Obama passed legislation with Senator Jim Talent (R-MO) to give gas stations a tax credit for installing E85 ethanol refueling pumps. The tax credit covers 30% of the costs of switching one or more traditional petroleum pumps to E85, which is an 85% ethanol/15% gasoline blend. Obama also sponsored an amendment that became law providing $40 million for commercialization of a combined flexible fuel vehicle/hybrid car within five years.
CAFE: Obama introduced a bold new plan that brought Republicans and Democrats, CAFE supporters and long-time opponents together in support of legislation that will gradually increase fuel economy standards and offer what the New York Times editorial page called "real as opposed to hypothetical results."

Obama co-sponsored a Renewable Portfolio Standard that mandates ten percent of total electric utility output must be renewable by 2012. He sponsored the Biodiesel Fuel Act to require diesel fuel sold in Illinois to contain at least two percent biodiesel fuel by volume. He was chief co-sponsor of the Energy Efficiency Building Act and the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards Act, which aim to improve energy efficiency in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings and in certain household products.
Source: Campaign website, ObamaForIllinois.org, "On the Issues" Sep 28, 2004

Creating Long-term Energy Alternatives for the Nation (CLEAN) Act
Title I: Ending Subsidies for Big Oil Act--denying a deduction for income attributable to domestic production of oil, natural gas, or their related primary products.
Title II: Royalty Relief for American Consumers Act--to incorporate specified price thresholds for royalties on oil & gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico.
Title III: Strategic Energy Efficiency And Renewables Reserve--makes the Reserve available to accelerate the use of clean domestic renewable energy resources and alternative fuels.

Obama sponsored requiring public notification when nuclear releases occur
OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: A bill to require atomic energy plants to notify the Atomic Energy Commission, and the State and county in which a facility is located, whenever there is an unplanned release of fission products in excess of allowable limits.

SPONSOR'S INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: Sen. OBAMA: It was recently announced by Exelon Nuclear that an environmental monitoring program discovered higher than normal concentrations of tritium in the groundwater near their Nuclear Generating Station. Indications are that this tritium plume is the result of an accidental radioactive wastewater release that occurred approximately 6 to 8 years ago. Community residents did not receive full or immediate notification of this contamination.

I was surprised to learn, that while Federal law requires notification immediately upon a "declared emergency," Federal law does not require notification of any other accidental, unplanned, or unintentional radioactive substance releases that may occur if those releases do not immediately rise to a public health or safety threat. And while those incidents must be documented with the NRC and made available to the public, accessing that information is contingent upon the public actually knowing that these incidents ever occurred.

When radioactive substances are released into the environment outside of normal operating procedures, notifying State and local officials should not be a courtesy; it should be the law.

It is reasonable--and realistic--for nuclear power to remain on the table for consideration. Illinois has 11 nuclear power plants--the most of any state. The people of Illinois--and all residents who live near nuclear power plants--have a right to know when actions are taken that might affect their safety and well-being.

LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar; never came to a vote.

Source: Nuclear Release Notice Act (S.2348/H.R.4825) 06-S2348 on Mar 1, 2006

Sen. Obama Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence.
Obama scores 100% by CAF on energy issues
OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2005-2006 CAF scores as follows:

0% - 30%: opposition of energy independence (approx. 206 members)
30% - 70%: mixed record on energy independence (approx. 77 members)
70%-100%: support for energy independence (approx. 183 members)
About the CAF (from their website, www.ourfuture.org):
About the CAF report, "Energy Independence: Record vs. Rhetoric":

Energy independence has surfaced as a defining issue in the current elections. Are most candidates and both parties truly committed? To help distinguish the demonstrated level of support for homegrown, clean energy alternatives, we examined the voting records of current U.S. Representatives and Senators on bills vital to promoting those interests. Key pieces of legislation included goals for independence, and subsidies for the development of alternatives compared to subsidies for drilling and digging. We then compared votes on these issues with campaign contributions from major oil interests. The results show strong inverse correlations between political contributions from big oil and votes for energy independence.

Obama co-sponsored setting goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025
A resolution that it is the goal of the United States that, not later than January 1, 2025, the agricultural, forestry, and working land of the US should provide from renewable resources not less than 25% of the total energy consumed and continue to produce safe, abundant, and affordable food, feed, and fiber. [Governors also signed letters of endorsement at www.25x25.org]

Rep. SALAZAR: "Our resolution establishes a national goal of producing 25% of America's energy from renewable sources--like solar, wind and biofuels--by 2025. The "25x'25" vision is widely endorsed, bold, and fully attainable. If implemented, it would dramatically improve our energy security, our economy, and our ability to protect the environment.

"I am pleased that more than 20 of my colleagues in the Senate, from both sides of the aisle, are cosponsoring this resolution. In addition, the "25x'25" vision has been endorsed by 22 current and former governors and several State legislatures across the country. The Big Three automobile manufacturers--Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors--are all behind "25x'25" So are many agricultural organizations, environmental groups, scientists, and businesses, ranging from the Natural Resources Defense Council to John Deere.

"These Americans understand that we cannot continue to import 60% of our oil from foreign countries, many of which are hostile to the US, if we aim to be strong and secure in the world. They know that we will have to build a clean energy economy if we are to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It is time for Congress to take a more active role in our clean energy future. Establishing a national goal--"25x'25" is the first step."

Source: 25x'25 Act (S.CON.RES.3 / H.CON.RES.25) 2007-SC03 on Jan 17, 2007

Source: CAF "Energy Independence" Report 06n-CAF on Dec 31, 2006

More:
http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Barack_Obama_Energy_+_Oil.htm

McCain-

http://environment.about.com/od/environmentallawpolicy/a/mccain_zero.htm

I have not found any Bills that McCain has purposed or co sponcered/

terra

So, I mean, you tell me, Miguel... Out of all the deathly sins religions decry, it seems what's considered 'religious issues' these days, are basically about hurting people who are 'engaged in' such *bbasically-unprofitable 'sins'* as being of a different sexuality or religion.

I mean, go ahead and gobble up all the food or money you want, start wars on thin justifications and funnel the public wealth to your contractor buddies... Cut aid to the poor and let the bridges and roads fall apart... Can't touch *those* 'sins.'

But, Oh, Gawd, PP's snuggling with another girl! Surely this will bring ruin! Deny health care and hospital visitation rights! Ban science! Cry endlessly, what are we to *do* about this horrid 'sin!'

That's a cheap way for big money to get their way, which is proclaiming they will do voluntarily what they fight tooth and nail to not have to do... and keep making worse.

And Wonder of wonders, but they never get round to those 'voluntary' measures they promised they'd do.

Ever.

Seriously.

What you consider 'religious issues' are what lets that go on without hurting profits too much.

"One, if alternative energy methods are going to be devised, the private sector, not the government, will do it."

ORLY? People keep saying that, but somehow the corporations *just can't seem to help themselves.*

It's about 'jobs,' you see. Not profits or any retooling expenses, of course.

Expecting the 'private sector,' even small alternative energy business, to compete with the heavily-subsidized-by conservative 'small government' Big Oil, or to expect 'Big Oil' to spend half of what they spend on PR on actually fixing things, is....

Well, about what you get when you have the fox guard the henhouse... then take the chicken-wire down.

"Second: why is this a "religious" question?"

Cause energy, the economy, the geopolitics of oil supply, and economic strangleholds on our nation by energy companies and the Saudis pretty much touch on *every single positive thing* 'faith based' folks are supposed to be trying to work on?

Except of course, controlling sex and queer-bashing. That doesn't cost big business anything.

One, if alternative energy methods are going to be devised, the private sector, not the government, will do it.
Second: why is this a "religious" question?