NY-26: Jon Powers Releases Energy Plan, Counters Davis, updated
Jon Powers has just released the specifics of his energy plan, here is a first look. I’ll have updates soon:
JON POWERS RELEASES ENERGY PLAN AS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES REVEAL OPPONENT OWNS UP TO $35 MILLION IN OIL AND ENERGY STOCKS
“Exxon Jack” has up to 35 Million Reasons to vote against lower gas prices.
WILLIAMSVILLE, NY – Jon Powers, Iraq War Veteran and the endorsed Democratic candidate in New York’s 26th congressional district, released his energy policy today as gas prices are climbing to record highs. This release comes at a time when his primary election opponent, Jack Davis revealed in financial disclosure documents that he owns up to $35 million in Big Oil and energy stocks. A recent poll released by the Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg revealed that 76% of Americans blame Big Oil, George Bush, oil speculators, and OPEC for record high gas prices.
At a press conference held at a Mobil gas station in Amherst, NY, where the price for a gallon of gas was $4.19, Powers called for an end to corporate greed that is causing skyrocketing gas prices. The Powers plan for Securing Our Energy Independence calls for increased investment for renewable energy and curbing corporate greed by reigning in oil speculators.
“We now know Jack Davis has up to 35 million reasons to vote against lower gas prices. Exxon Jack is no different than George Bush and the politicians in Washington, DC who are already bought and paid for by the oil companies. Western New York needs a Congressman who will look out for their interests, not Exxon/Mobil’s bottom line” stated Powers Campaign Manager, John Gerken.
TOP 10 QUESTIONS JACK DAVIS MUST ANSWER ABOUT HIS OIL INVESTMENTS
• How can you say you are not beholden to special interests when you have up to $35 million dollars invested in Big Oil and energy while hardworking Americans struggle to fill their gas tanks?
• How can hard working Western New Yorkers trust you to lower gas prices when you profited by up to $280,000 off of Big Oil and energy last year?
• Why should Western New Yorkers believe that you will vote in our interests and not your own when it comes to Big Oil?
• Do you support drilling in ANWR?
• Would you vote against tax breaks for big oil?
• Is there really any difference between spending your own money that you received from Big Oil and taking special interest money?
• Isn’t it a little hypocritical that you made more than 5 times the median income of the district last year off of Big Oil and energy, but you say you understand the hard times Western New Yorkers are facing?
• What would you do in Congress to lower the price of gasoline and help the families in Western New York that you want to represent?
• Do you believe that renewable energy will help alleviate man-made global warming?
Energy Policy: The Problem
• A gallon of gasoline is approaching unmanageable prices for the average American and there is no end in sight to the skyrocketing cost which is causing Americans great pain at the pump.• For too long, Washington, D.C.’s energy policy was to provide big breaks and subsidies to Big Oil and energy companies. These companies have reaped massive benefits. In 2006 alone, the major oil companies, including Exxon/Mobil, Shell, and Chevron reported $124.9 Billion in benefits.
• In 2007, the United States spent $237 billion on foreign oil.
o America is addicted to oil and has been for more than 30 years and Washington, D.C. refuses to instill a forward looking policy to move America away from foreign based oil.
o America’s National Security is vulnerable due to our oil addiction and we need a Congressman who is going to move America forward with an energy policy, not be beholden to Big Oil and Energy corporations of the past.
• Catastrophic global warming is a clear and present danger to the United States and the World and our energy policy does not address the problem, let alone provide any solutions.
Jon Powers’ Plan to Secure our Energy Independence
• An Energy Bill that Invests in Our Future – Provide tax credits to investors who empower scientists to develop renewable energy. Instead of giving away billions to Big Oil, we should provide funding to scientists and engineers to develop renewable energies. As of right now, Congress only provides an advancement of one year to investors who want to develop renewable energies while they provide billions to Big Oil. We need to extend these credits to 10 year allotments in order to provide scientists and engineers with the funds necessary to cure America’s oil addiction and make our Country safe.
• A Menu of Options – There is no silver bullet solution to the energy crisis. The United States must not limit Americans to any one particular form of renewable energy, but provide several options in order to protect against future monopolies such as the one oil currently holds.
• Apollo Sized Ambitions – When we come together as a nation, we can accomplish anything. The United States had a vision to get to the moon; we made the commitment and accomplished the task. If we are truly going to be energy independent, Congress must set firm goals of when America will be powered by renewable energy and then commit ourselves to making sure this happens.
• A Government that Leads by Example – Jon Powers will support legislation that requires all newly purchased nonmilitary federal vehicles (including Postal vehicles) to be American made and use hybrid technology or E85 fuel within five years. We must also provide state and local governments incentives to move all non law enforcement vehicles to do the same.
• Helping the Consumer Lead by Example – The federal government allows for a tax credit of up to $3,400 on hybrid vehicles. This incentive is only given to the first 60,000 models of each car sold. Jon Powers will work to make sure that all hybrid vehicles receive this tax credit until hybrids and other clean cars make up a majority of all vehicles sold. Jon Powers also supports housing tax credits for homeowners who invest in making their home more energy efficient.
• Stopping Corporate Greed by closing the Enron Loop-Hole – Special Interest groups and Big Oil have created a loophole in the law that allows speculators to manipulate the price of oil and inflate it by $30-$50 per barrel. While Americans pay over four dollars per gallon of gasoline, Big Oil is making record profits. Jon Powers supports closing the loophole and forcing speculators to provide realistic estimates so our gasoline prices will go down.
• An America that Leads by Example – Jon Powers will fight for legislation to require the use of safe, renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower to generate 25% of the nation’s electricity by 2025. America must also invest in technologies to improve ethanol and convert to cellulosic ethanol so that America can grow its own fuel and it will not affect the food supply.
• Forcing Oil Companies to Lead by Example – Jon Powers supports legislation that will require oil companies to install bio-fuel pumps at 25% of their stations.
• Reducing Carbon Emissions – Jon Powers will support legislation to cap emissions of greenhouse gases and reduce them by 20% by 2020.
It seems like Powers has the right priorities: tax credits for renewable energy, diversifying energy options, commitment to action, American made hybrid technology-equipped government vehicles, a tax credit for all hybrid vehicles, closing loopholes, reforming our electricity sources and supporting 25% of stations to install bio-fuel pumps, and capping and reducing greenhouse gases. It’s all good. The theme of leading by example resonates throughout the entire plan.
Powers has ideas that help constituents; Davis has 35 million conflicts of interest.
Related posts:
Jack Davis wants to keep regular hard working American’s like Powers out of the fight! He has 35 millions reasons not to get my vote!!!
It comes down to “By the people,” (Jon Powers’ campaign) or Davis’ “Buy the people.” I’ll always choose “By the people.”
[...] primary opponent of Davis in upstate New York?s 26th District, has previously drawn attention to the industrialist?s millions in oil company investments. Davis spent millions of his own money running for the House seat in 2004 and 2006 against [...]