April 2005 Archives
« March 2005 | Main | May 2005 »
Republican energy policy is result of corporate influence, Miller says
WASHINGTON, D.C. – President George W. Bush is expected to address the issue of high gas prices during a prime-time press conference tonight. In anticipation of the President’s comments, Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) issued the following statement today:
“For five years, President Bush has failed to craft a comprehensive energy policy that would reduce our nation’s dependence on oil. He turned energy policy over to Vice President Cheney, Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and a cabal of industry insiders, and we are continuing to see the results: high gas prices, no relief for consumers or the environment, and hefty profits for oil companies.
“Today, Exxon Mobil reported $7.86 billion in profit in just three months, based largely on rising oil prices. Exxon Mobil is one of the Republican Party’s biggest and most reliable corporate sponsors. Since the 1995-1996 election cycle, Exxon Mobil has written 90 percent of its checks to members of the GOP, for a total of more than $4.6 million dollars to Republicans in ten years.
“It’s no surprise, then, that Republican energy legislation continues to reward the energy industry even as Exxon Mobil posts one of the largest quarterly profits in U.S. history.
“The President and this Republican Congress could take real steps to reward conservation, reduce oil consumption, and lower gas prices. But why would they bite the hand that feeds them? The Republican energy policy benefits oil companies, not the American people.”
Miller is Chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee and a member of the House Resources Committee.
Exxon Mobil made its first quarter earnings announcement this morning. Its $7.86 billion in profit was the company’s largest first-quarter profit ever; it was the fifth largest quarterly profit for any company in U.S. history. The announcement came on news that first-quarter growth in the U.S. economy, at 3.1 percent, was the slowest it has been in two years.
corruption
economy
energyandenvironment
gas prices
natural resources
oil
Posted by Intern, CA07 at 10:54PM | Comments ()
Rep. Miller statement on changes to House ethics rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Later this evening the House is scheduled to vote on a resolution to reinstate ethics standards that had been gutted by the Republicans in January. The resolution is expected to pass overwhelmingly. Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez), the Chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, issued this statement today in anticipation of tonight’s vote:
“Thanks to intense public pressure, Republican leaders today allowed the House to vote to reverse the outrageous ethics changes they pushed earlier this year. Today’s vote is a victory for the American people. It was an egregious move to have weakened the ethics committee in the first place and allow unethical behavior to go unchecked. Hopefully today’s reversal signals a recognition by House Republicans that they have gone too far in running the House just for themselves and not for all Americans. This assault on the ethics process was just one in a series of abuses of power carried out by the Republicans who control Congress. But today’s vote to reverse course is a victory for the country.”
The changes to the ethics rules in January made it nearly impossible for the House ethics committee to hold Members of Congress accountable for their own unethical or illegal behavior. These changes were made following three committee rebukes of Majority Leader Tom DeLay for his unethical behavior.
Posted by Intern, CA07 at 06:07PM | Comments ()
Miller joins House and Senate Democrats to reaffirm commitment to Social Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) today joined House and Senate Democratic colleagues to sign a “Declaration of Unity” reaffirming Democrats’ commitment to strengthen, not privatize, Social Security. Democrats also held a rally with hundreds of people from across the country to mark the end of President Bush’s much touted, but unsuccessful, “60 Days” tour intended to push his privatization plan.
The Declaration Miller and others signed reads, in part: “We are united in our commitment to strengthen Social Security, not privatize it. We will work to improve the retirement security of all Americans and will oppose any scheme for deep benefit cuts or massive debt to fund risky private accounts.”
Today, Miller said, “Social Security guarantees Americans a minimum level of retirement after a lifetime of work or a serious disability. But President Bush’s privatization plan puts that guarantee at risk. What we ought to do is start putting money back into Social Security, and stop taking the money out of it.”
While the president has toured the country discussing his privatization plan, Miller has held four town meetings of his own in Contra Costa and Solano counties to discuss the future of Social Security and listen to his constituents’ priorities for the program. Miller will participate in two additional meetings on Social Security this weekend in Richmond and Martinez.
“The President spent 60 days trying to convince the country to embrace his privatization plan, but he couldn’t do it. The more he talked about it the less people liked what they heard. Americans do not appear to be willing to let the President pull the wool over their eyes,” said Miller. “The President’s plan would lead to deep benefit cuts and add to the federal debt. I support putting money back into the Social Security trust fund – not taking more out of it – and I support sensible reforms that will strengthen Social Security for future generations. But privatization would destroy Social Security as we know it, and that is why I remain steadfast in my opposition to the President’s plan.”
Posted by Intern, CA07 at 06:47PM | Comments ()
