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The Democrats are missing an opportunity here to look offer the kind of compromise the American people are looking for.
OF COURSE the GOP is playing games when they tell people that domestic drilling can give them lower fuel prices. That’s especially true when they imply that those lower fuel costs would come soon.
But that said, we need to call their bluff here. In doing so, we might actually get something done.
Democrats should tell the Republicans that they are willing to talk about LIMITED off-shore drilling far from shore (say, 75-100 miles out) but only under certain conditions. Here are some of the conditions we could ask for:
-- Tough energy efficiency standards for lighting and appliances. -- Higher CAFÉ standards for cars. -- Mandates requiring utility companies to generate a percentage of their power from renewable sources. -- New tax credits for energy-efficient vehicles and tax penalties gas hogs. -- Tougher environmental standards for oil drilling in the U.S. -- Funding for a massive program to develop alternative energy sources and the infrastructure to deliver them.
If the GOP balks at a compromise along these lines, the fault ill lie with them. If they accept, then we’d be in a position to be pretty tough when them in terms of getting the kind of energy policy we want.
Either way, Democrats would benefit from having taken the high road.
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