Congressman Steve Scalise from Congressional District 1 sent out an email yesterday stating that he has returned from the American Energy Tour.  He said, “I joined Republican Leader John Boehner and 10 other Members of Congress from around the country to work on solutions to the energy crisis our country is facing, and research more ways to increase the supply of American oil and alternative sources of energy to lower gas prices and reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.  We had briefings from a number of federal agencies as well as other energy industry experts.  We also toured the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska.”

After offering various ways to provide solutions to the “energy crises”, the Congressman said, “It is important that Congress pursue an “all of the above” energy strategy; from the research and development of renewable energy technologies found at NREL, to tapping the vast oil and gas reserves that exist in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska’s North Slope, and oil shale in the mountain states.  I will continue to pursue all of these options as a Member of Congress, and will encourage my colleagues to do the same.  Our country is facing a national energy crisis.  President Bush recently lifted the executive order ban on OCS drilling.  All that stands in the way is the liberal leadership in Congress.  The time for Congress to act is now.  The only way we will solve this crisis is by working together on both short-term and long-term solutions.  If we increase the supply of American oil, we can reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil and bring down gas prices at the pump, while continuing to pursue alternative sources of energy for the future”.

There is much debate throughout the nation over the issue of drilling for energy.  Unfortunately, one of the rare events did occur today in the Mississippi River where a barge collided causing substantial amount of oil to spill.

Ironically, yesterday, Congressman Scalise’s new opposition in Congressional District 1 sent out an email raising various issues and also focusing upon oil.  Here is that email in pertinent parts:

SCALISE CAMPAIGN IS BROKE

Massive Debt and Poor Fundraising Show Trouble for Scalise As He Traipses To Alaska In Search of Oil

JEFFERSON—Congressman Steve Scalise has reported a weak $200,000 cash on hand for his campaign with more than $192,000 in debt.

“Scalise is dead in the water,” said Joel Coon, campaign manager for Jim Harlan who is challenging Scalise.

“We are having great success raising money and we had more than $575,000 cash on hand at the end of the second quarter,” Harlan said. “People are responding extremely well to my background as a pragmatic, problem-solving businessman.”

“This shows that the people of Louisiana’s First Congressional District are hungry for change,” Harlan said. “We’re in this thing to win. It’s time to change the way Washington works.”

Harlan also questioned Scalise’s recent congressional junket to Alaska in search of oil.

“Steve Scalise left the promised land of oil and gas reserves here in Louisiana to travel to a frozen tundra,” Harlan said. “Louisiana can produce oil sooner and lead America to energy independence if we will only have the political will to accelerate our efforts here. Alaska will take years to develop compared to the hope and promise of Louisiana’s energy reserves and the experience of our oil and gas industry.”

Harlan is not alone in his criticism of Scalise and his junket. Local political bloggers and commentators in Louisiana took Scalise to task this week for his trip to the frozen wasteland of Alaska. A simple Google search of “Scalise” and “Alaska” will turn up a number of local political activists criticizing the Alaska junket.

Harlan said, “Congressman Scalise has his priorities all mixed up. While he was in Alaska, a high level congressional delegation was in Louisiana focusing on hurricane recovery and protection. Governor Bobby Jindal was right to meet with this delegation on behalf of Louisiana families. That is a great example of Republicans and Democrats working together to address real problems.”

Coon said, “Louisiana voters and the political establishment are scratching their heads in wonder as Scalise sells out Louisiana’s oil and gas industry with his taxpayer-funded vacation to Alaska. The time has come for change and Jim Harlan offers the practical, pragmatic leadership America and Louisiana so desperately needs.”

In the race for US Senate, Republican John Kennedy issued the following release raising questions about Senator Landrieu’s vote on energy:

LANDRIEU STANDS BEHIND DEMS OPPOSING NEW FEDERAL DOMESTIC OIL EXPLORATION PLAN

- Landrieu: “Sen. Salazar asked me to vote no. I did so at his request.”-

BATON ROUGE, LA – The Associated Press (AP) reports the U.S. Interior Department today is scheduled to propose a “program to sell oil shale leases on federal lands, similar to the leases sold now for oil and natural gas both on and offshore.” 

What about Mary Landrieu? She opposes oil shale exploration. In fact, despite record oil prices, she cast the Democrats’ deciding vote against it.  State Treasurer John Kennedy fully supports the new federal plan to expand domestic oil exploration. 

In addition to sizable oil shale deposits in northern Louisiana, the AP reports, “the shale is concentrated in the Green River Basin of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Developing it has become a hot topic of debate between Democrats and Republicans in response to voter anger over $4-a-gallon gasoline prices this summer.”

Despite campaign rhetoric about being “independent” from the Democratic Party in supporting domestic oil exploration, Landrieu placed party politics before our energy needs simply because her party asked her to.

According to The Rocky Mountain News, Mary Landrieu voted against “lifting the moratorium on urging from her friend, Sen. Salazar.” In fact, Landrieu said, “Sen. Salazar asked me to vote no. I did so at his request.”

“What good is Mary Landrieu’s ‘clout’ in Washington if she can’t persuade even one, single Democrat to stand up for families hurt by skyrocketing prices at the pump?” said Leonardo Alcivar, Communications Director for Kennedy for Senate. 

“If the most liberal United States Senator in Louisiana’s history won’t stand up to Ken Salazar, how will she ever stand up to her choice for president, Barack Obama – who staunchly opposes drilling.”

In May, Mary Landrieu Voted Against Lifting The Moratorium On “Urging From Her Friend” Democratic Senator Ken Salazar. 

·         The Rocky Mountain News: “One of the key swing votes, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said she also opposes the moratorium on the new oil shale rules. However, she voted against Allard's amendment lifting the moratorium on urging from her friend, Sen. Salazar.” (M.E. Sprengelmeyer, “Oil Shale Hits Roadblock In Senate,” The Rocky Mountain News, 5/15/08)

o       Mary Landrieu: “Sen. Salazar asked me to vote no. I did so at his request.” (M.E. Sprengelmeyer, “Oil Shale Hits Roadblock In Senate,” The Rocky Mountain News, 5/15/08)

Scott Schneider, the spokesperson for the Mary Landrieu campaign, responded to the Kennedy press statement at the request of Bayoubuzz with the following:

John Kennedy changed his party and his positions at the request of Karl Rove and Washington political operatives.  It is unfortunate that the Kennedy campaign is more interested in cheap partisan attacks than the truth.  Sen. Landrieu convinced 18 Democrats to support expanded domestic drilling and got 39 Democrats to vote for the final package that opens 8.3 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas exploration.  Her bill was the first in 25 years to expand domestic offshore energy production, and it directed the Federal Government to share the revenue with Louisiana, which could mean more than $40 billion for our state.  This is the same victory that John Kennedy touts on his website.