MEMO: Ted Stevens on EnergyMEMORANDUM TO: Reporters; interested parties Rising energy prices have made it difficult for Alaska families to stretch their household budgets. The average retail price per gallon of gasoline in Alaska is up nearly a dollar from June of last year, and over the past year has consistently been above the national average. [American Automobile Association.] As energy prices continue to rise, Alaska families are being left behind. In light of votes in Congress this week on energy, the AGIA discussions in the Alaska State Legislature, and Mark Begich releasing his energy plan, below is Stevens record on energy.
Just This Week, Stevens Voted Against Protecting Alaskans From Higher Gas Prices. On June 10, 2008, Senator Stevens voted to block the Consumer-First Energy Act. The legislation needed 60 votes in the Senate to move forward but only received 51. The Consumer-First Energy Act would have taken several immediate steps to lower out-of-control gas prices, which now average more than $4 per gallon nationwide. [Roll Call Vote #146, 6/10/2008]
Just This Week, Stevens Blocked The Renewable Energy And Job Creation Act. On June 10, 2008 Stevens voted to help block the Senate from proceeding to The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act which would have extended tax incentives to increase renewable energy production and proposes alternative energy solutions including encouraging the production and use of wind and solar energy. [Roll Call Vote #147, 6/10/2008]
Stevens Has Taken More Than $400,000 From The Oil & Gas Industry. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Stevens has received $418,590 in contributions from political action committees representing oil and gas companies. [Center for Responsive Politics]
Stevens Has Taken Over $100,000 From VECO Corporation Executives. According to USA Today, “Allen, Smith and other company executives gave $105,500 to Ted Stevens’ campaign and political action committee since 1990, according to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.” [USA Today, 8/1/2007]
Stevens Refused to Decline Exxon Campaign Contributions After 1989 Oil Spill; And Continued To Collect $13,000 Since Spill. In the year following the March 24, 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, which dumped 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound, Stevens refused to decline campaign contributions from Exxon. Since 1994, Stevens received $13,000 from the company since 1984. [Anchorage Daily News, "Oil PACs Donate to Young, Stevens," 2/11/1990]
Stevens Has Received Thousands From Halliburton. Stevens’ federal campaign received $10,500 from Halliburton: [Political MoneyLine Web Site, Campaign Finance Info: Ted Stevens www.tray.com]
Ø Halliburton Passed Along $61 Million In Inflated Fuel Prices To The U.S. Government. According to a New York Times article, Pentagon officials said their reviews of the Halliburton contracts had turned up two problems, both related to a subsidiary, Kellogg, Brown & Root. In one case, they said Halliburton failed to get a reasonable price for fuel from a subcontractor in Kuwait and had passed the inflated price along to the government. Halliburton charged the government $2.27 a gallon for 56.6 million gallons of gasoline from Kuwait, Pentagon officials said. That was $1.09 a gallon higher than the government was charged by another contractor, they added. The difference amounted to more than $61 million. [A Region Inflamed, New York Times, 12/13/2003]
Stevens Voted Against Protecting Rising Gas Prices. On March 13, 2008 Stevens voted against creating a budget point of order against any legislation that the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) determined could increase gas prices. [Roll Call Vote #72, 3/13/2008]
Stevens Voted Against Funding The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. On September 10, 2003, Stevens voted against adding $300 million to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency fund. [Roll Call Vote #336, S.AMDT 1595, September 10, 2003]
Stevens Voted Against Regulatory Oversight Of Energy Markets. In 2002, Stevens voted against an amendment that would have provided regulatory oversight of energy trading markets. [Roll Call Vote #61, S.AMDT 2989, 4/10/2002]
Stevens Voted Against Researching the Effects of Climate Change, Greenhouse Gases and Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil. On October 30 2003, Stevens voted against an amendment that sought to research the effects of climate change, greenhouse gases and reduce dependence on foreign oil. The amendment failed 55-43, with 6 Republicans voting for it and 9 Democrats voting against it. [Roll Call Vote #420, S 139, October 30, 2003]
Stevens Voted Against Energy Advancement And Investment. On June 21, 2007, Stevens voted against amending the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for energy advancement and investment. [Roll Call 223, Amdt. 1704, 6/21/2007]
Stevens Voted To Delay Action On Fuel Efficiency Standards for Cars And Trucks. In 2002, Stevens voted for an amendment that delayed action on increasing fuel efficiency standards. The amendment passed 62-38, with 19 Democrats voting for it and 6 Republicans voting against it. [Roll Call Vote #47, S.AMDT 2997, 3/13/2002]
Stevens Voted Against A Program To Provide Loans For Projects To Produce Syngas While Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Reliance On Petroleum And Natural Gas. On June, 19, 2007, Stevens voted against the establishment of a program to provide loans for projects to produce syngas from coal and other feedstocks while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the reliance of the United States on petroleum and natural gas. [Roll Call Vote #214, S Amdt 1614, 6/19/2007]
Stevens Voted Against Providing For The Expansion And Operation Of Liquefied Natural Gas Terminals. On June 19, 2007, Stevens voted against providing for the siting, construction, expansion and operation of liquefied natural gas terminals. [Roll Call Vote #216, S Amdt 1610, 6/19/2007]
Stevens Voted Against The Establishment Of A Federal Clean Portfolio Standard. On June 14, 2007, Stevens voted against providing for a federal clean portfolio standard. [Roll Call Vote #211, S Amdt 1538, 6/14/2008]
Stevens Blocked The Development Of A Natural Gas Pipeline Contract In Alaska. In June 2005, the natural gas company Sempra Energy said it would not pursue a natural gas pipeline contract in Alaska because of a lack of participation from Stevens and Governor Frank Murkowski in contract negotiations. According to the Anchorage Daily News: “The company claimed a lack of progress with ‘the most important players,’ mentioning Gov. Frank Murkowski and U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.” [Anchorage Daily News, "All-Alaska Gas Line Loses Funds; SEMPRA: Energy Company Drops Support, Citing Lack of Progress With ‘The Most Important Players'," June 2, 2005)] |
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