7/31/2008 - Collins' New Ad on Energy is the "Height of Hypocrisy"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2008
CONTACT: REBECCA POLLARD, 772-4353 OR RPOLLARD@MAINEDEMS.ORG
Susan Collins knows her voting record contradicts public opinion
(PORTLAND, MAINE) - Senator Susan Collins' new ad in which she promotes herself as an advocate for renewable energy stands at the "absolute height of hypocrisy" when compared to her actual voting record on energy issues over the years, Maine Democrats said today in response to Collins' latest television ad.
"It's actually stunning to see Susan Collins stand there claiming to be a leader on energy issues when her voting record has contributed to the high oil prices that Mainers are paying today. The Collins ad represents the absolute height of hypocrisy," said Rebecca Pollard, communications director for the Maine Democratic Party.
Collins voted three years ago this week for the most massive big oil tax giveaway in U.S. history, the Cheney Oil Bill that gave $14.3 billion to the largest oil and gas conglomerates at a time they already were making record profits. In exchange, Collins has taken $130,000 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry over the course of her career. She also has voted against efforts to curb speculation, which experts blame for driving up the cost of gas by as much as $1 per gallon. She has voted against a tax on the excess windfall profits being made by Big Oil off the backs of hard-working Mainers. And she's voted against tax incentives to encourage renewable energy.
"Despite her record, these days Susan Collins is sounding a lot like Tom Allen when it comes to energy issues," Pollard said. "Maybe she's finally coming around to the positions that Allen has been pushing for years-that the energy crisis is real and requires a serious, sustainable domestic solution-but something tells me it's more of an election year conversion."
"Susan Collins needs to realize there are consequences to one's votes, and no matter what she says in the heat of a campaign can take those votes back," Pollard said.
Susan Collins' Voting Record:
Collins Voted For Bush-Cheney Energy Bill That Moved $14 Billion In Tax Breaks and Incentives To The Oil and Gas Industry. Collins voted the Bush-Cheney energy bill that moved $14 billion in tax breaks and incentives to the oil and gas industry during a time of record profits. The League of Conservation Voters called the Energy bill the "most anti-environment bill signed into law in recent memory." [Vote 212, 7/29/05; Vote 213, 7/29/05; LCV Scorecard 2005, www.lcv.org]
The Price of a Barrel of Oil Has More Than Doubled Since Collins Voted For The Bush-Cheney Energy Bill. The day the Bush-Cheney energy bill passed the Senate a barrel of oil had reached a record price of $61. Today the price of a barrel of oil is over $131 - more than double what it was when Collins voted for the 2005 energy bill. [CNN, 7/22/08]
Collins Has Taken Nearly $130,000 From The Oil and Gas Industry Over The Course of Her Career. During her time in the Senate, Collins has taken $129,943 from the oil and gas industry. Collins has received over $36,000 from the industry so far this election cycle. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed online 7/23/08; FEC, 7/16/08]
Collins Has Opposed Cracking Down On Energy Speculators That Are Driving Up The Cost of Fuel. In 2003, Collins voted against an amendment to regulate online trading of energy derivatives and impose stringent penalties for market manipulation. Consumer experts argue that speculation is driving up the current cost of fuel by as much as $1 a gallon or between $40-$60 for a barrel of oil. [S. 14, Vote #218, 6/11/03; CNN, 7/22/08]
Collins Opposed a Windfall Profits Tax on Oil Companies that Redirected Funds to Struggling American Consumers. In 2005, Collins voted against an amendment that would impose a temporary windfall profit tax on crude oil and rebate the tax collected back to the American consumer. [S. 2020, Vote 331, 11/17/05; Vote 341, 11/17/05]
Last Month Collins Voted Against Tax Credits for Renewable Energy Projects. In spite of our growing energy crisis, Collins broke with Senator Snowe and voted against the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act that provided tax credits for alternative energy sources. The next week, Collins backtracked in an election year political maneuver and changed her vote on the bill. [H.R. 6049, Vote #147, 6/10/08]`The bill extends and modifies tax credits for wind and solar energy development and expansion, efforts to make residential properties more energy efficient, and an array of other renewable energy projects-from biomass to carbon sequestration.
