Lobbies Stymie Action on Energy

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-cong/2007/jun/18/061805674.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - Three powerful lobbying forces - automakers, electric utilities and the coal industry - are confounding Democrats' efforts to forge a less-polluting energy policy.

Disputes over automobile fuel economy, use of coal as a motor fuel, and requirements for utilities to use more wind or biomass to generate electricity have threatened to stall energy legislation in both the Senate and House.

The issues have been the focus of intense lobbying by the coal industry, electric utilities heavily dependent on coal, and by automobile manufacturers trying to block new fuel economy requirements from Washington and in a dozen states.

In an effort to move ahead with an energy bill in the House, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., said Monday he is dropping a provision to boost auto fuel economy from a draft bill, along with incentives for the development of liquefied coal as a motor fuel.

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[Javaman]

1. more circular clusterfucking by the energy lobbiests. yay! nt

[redqueen]

2. how does that work exactly?

do the lobbyists point guns at the legislators' heads?

how do legislators sell out the public interest, yet somehow blame lobbyists for their actions? i don't get that.

[jpak]

3. They threaten to pull their campaign contributions and fund your opponents

Far more threatening to a pol than a mere gun...

[redqueen]

4. Kucinich managed to somehow not buckle...

he was indeed run out of office, which i'm sure he expected... but he did his job just the same.

he can't be the lone exception. we can't afford to let him be.

[Nihil]

5. Your second guess was correct.

> legislators sell out the public interest

The reason why Dennis K is so appealing is simply that he is NOT one
of the herd:
- He does NOT sell himself (and his voters) out for bribes from corrupt corporations.
- He does NOT sell his soul to the PNAC empire-builders.
- He does NOT kow-tow as soon as one of the major "lobbying" groups start to bleat.

As a result, he tends to be isolated and squeezed out of the room by
the fat pigs - wearing both R and D - who just love being in the trough.