Sec. Abraham fires back at critics of Bush administration's energy plan

By the OGJ Online Staff

WASHINGTON, DC, July 25 -- US Energy Sec. Spencer Abraham Wednesday attacked opponents of the Bush administration's energy policy proposals during a National Press Club speech.

Abraham noted Pres. George W. Bush has made 105 energy policy proposals, 85 of which can be effected with administrative action and 20 that require legislation.

Abraham noted four House committees have marked up and passed energy bills that incorporate many of the administration's legislative recommendations, and floor action is due soon. Further House and Senate action is expected in the fall.

Abraham said gasoline prices are falling, California is not experiencing blackouts, and legislation is moving on Capitol Hill, but those achievements are being measured by the wrong yardstick.

"The measuring stick now seems to be public opinion surveys ... fraught with such limitations that they could never offer a fair assessment of the President's plan."

He said the strategy has 105 recommendations, "Yet most polls have only tested those everyone would concede to be least popular. Hence ANWR support is constantly tested as though it is the centerpiece of our plan -- which it isn't -- while at least 100 of our recommendations have never been subject to polling inquiry.

"Moreover, when asked to compare energy options, the public has generally been offered a false choice: In essence, Americans have been asked to pick between massive drilling in the protected wilderness versus painless conservation coupled with a crackdown on energy companies that are charging high prices.

"Now measuring more drilling and pipelines against mandated lower energy prices hardly seems a realistic way to assess our plan, yet that is in essence what we have encountered. Does anyone really believe that Americans would prefer more power plants on the one hand versus lower prices without sacrifice on the other?

"Of course not. Testing the president's energy plan versus the competition requires, first, that the other side have a comprehensive plan for meeting our long-term energy needs, and then have such plan examined, as ours has been, to see if it will actually do the job. "

Until then, he said, "Our national energy discussion will continue to present Americans with the false choice of pipelines and drilling versus conservation and lower prices."

Abraham said the administration's energy plan will solve the nation's underlying problems.

"Indeed, no one has argued that our plan won't ensure affordable and plentiful supplies of energy in America."