May 7, 2007
BY COREY WILLIAMS Associated Press
DETROIT -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Monday that U.S. energy policy must change in order to help domestic automakers answer the rising global demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
''For years, while foreign competitors were investing in more fuel-efficient technology for their vehicles, American automakers were spending their time investing in bigger, faster cars,'' the Illinois senator told Detroit business and political leaders.
Obama said his plan encourages domestic automakers to make fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles by giving them health care assistance for retirees. Federal financial assistance would cover 10 percent -- up to $7 billion -- of automakers' annual legacy health care costs through 2017, under Obama's plan, which would require automakers to invest at least half of their health care savings into technology to produce fuel-efficient cars.
As a second choice, Obama's plan would provide $3 billion to automakers over 10 years to help retool plants to make fuel-efficient cars and trucks....
...and the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer...Was McCain a member of Cheney's Energy Committee? Just curious.
McCain: Lift the ban on offshore oil drilling (click here)
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Sen. John McCain said Monday the federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling should be lifted, and individual states given the right to pursue energy exploration in waters near their own coasts.
With gasoline prices rising and the United States chronically dependent on foreign oil, the Republican presidential contender said his proposal would "be very helpful in the short term resolving our energy crisis."
McCain also suggested giving the states incentives, including a greater share of royalties paid by companies that drill for oil, as an incentive to permit exploration.
Asked how far offshore states should be given control of drilling rights, he said that was a matter for negotiation....
"Alaskans want to drill for oil..."
But.
McCain, the "Federalist" opposes drilling in the Arctic. However, McCain will say States have the right to determine whether they drill or not.
How does a Federalist that oppose drilling in the Arctic CONTROL 'one state' that is Alaska from drilling in the Arctic?
It isn't possible. If all bans are removed from drilling offshore, there is no discriminating between states. McCain does not have good policies so much as good politics.
