SOTU: Bush Effort to Address Energy Alternatives is a Day Late and a Gallon Short

Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, released the following statement on President Bush’s dismal record on energy policy in anticipation of his remarks tonight during the State of the Union Address on creating “Energy Alternatives”:

“The Bush energy policy takes center stage when anyone talks about the high cost of Republican corruption in Washington. This President is a day late and gallon short if he wants to talk about creating a responsible energy policy at this point in his presidency. He and his Republican colleagues lack credibility and have violated the trust of the American people on this issue, just like so many others.”

“The only energy plan the Bush Administration ever developed was their plan to repay the energy industry for its strong political support while the price of gasoline and home heating fuels has risen higher than ever.”

“The Bush energy plan of the last six years has existed solely to provide a dizzying array of tax breaks and special subsidies for various parts of the energy industry, without lowering the cost of energy for American consumers and businesses, or reducing our country’s dependence on foreign oil.”

“Under this Administration, it is oil and mining industry executives who have shaped our energy and environmental policies, just as the pharmaceutical industry is controlling health care policy, all while Americans pay the price. And as a result, Americans are suffering.”