Real Energy Solutions for Today and Tomorrow - Sen. David Cappiello

America is facing an energy crisis the likes of which we have never seen. The pain families are feeling is unbearable each time they fill up their car, heat their homes, or even just turn on the lights. The strain energy costs are placing on employers threatens the very foundation of our economy with job losses and inflation caused by rising prices for food and other necessities.

Americans are being told by Washington politicians that we must choose between addressing our needs today and planning for tomorrow, increasing domestic supply and protecting the environment, and accepting today’s energy realities or investing in better technology for tomorrow. These are false choices, and they are fueling the inaction in Congress that is squeezing consumers to death.

It’s time for a change in the way Congress thinks about energy policy, and David Cappiello is ready to fight for it.

David Cappiello will fight to lift the ban on offshore oil and gas drilling. America is dependent on foreign oil because Congress is blocking the exploration of our own reserves. The Outer Continental Shelf contains an estimated 18 BILLION barrels of oil and 12 trillion of cubic feet of natural gas. Nobody is talking about destroying our environment in the process. We’re talking about using the American ingenuity that put a man on the moon to tap our own energy reserves in an environmentally responsible manner, miles away from our shores.

David Cappiello will work to encourage the use of nuclear power. Nuclear energy is cheap, efficient, and free of hazardous air emissions, but the U.S. gets less than 20% of its electricity from nuclear energy. By contrast, France produces almost 80% of its electricity from nuclear power and has the most affordable rates in Europe, without serious concerns about waste or safety. Nuclear technology has come a long way, and the U.S. should embrace it.

David Cappiello will work to end the costly ethanol mandate. Corn-based ethanol sounded too good to be true, and we’re finding out it was. Ethanol reduces fuel efficiency in cars, adds to the cost at the pump, and fleeces taxpayers with billions in subsidies to massive, wealthy farms every year. Until technology becomes available to make ethanol more efficient and affordable, Congress needs to revise or repeal the ethanol mandate out of respect to consumers and taxpayers.

David Cappiello will work to streamline fuel production. Right now, the law requires that different types of “boutique blends” of gasoline be produced in the United States- some of which are duplicative or unnecessary. David Cappiello will work to roll back requirements for production on unneeded gas blends that fracture the market and drive up costs for consumers.

David Cappiello believes we must reform the oil futures market. Commodities trading is an important part of our economy, but some investors have gotten out of control in oil speculation. This pushes high oil prices even higher, and Congress must work to prevent abuses and close loopholes so that a few investors are not gambling with our economic future.

David Cappiello will work to invest in cleaner technologies for the future. Our economy relies on fossil fuels right now, but we must invest in cleaner, renewable technology that will reduce our reliance on petroleum over time. Government should work to encourage their development much like we do with medical research. David will support investing in research and development of renewable energy solutions like wind, solar, and fuel cells that can be provided to the public when they become PRACTICAL and affordable for everyday use.

David Cappiello will help Americans conserve. David Cappiello believes that Americans want to be smart about energy conservation, but understands that energy efficient improvements are a significant financial investment for families and businesses. David will help American citizens be part of the solution by supporting tax credits for a wide range of energy saving upgrades to homes, businesses, and lifestyles.

With the ill effects of high fuel prices still hammering the American economy, many Republicans across the country have endorsed an “All of the Above” Strategy for reducing the price of energy and ending our dependence on foreign oil. Last week, while House Republicans wanted to stay in session and work on an energy plan, the Democrats decided to take a five week vacation.

Republicans stood their ground on the floor of the U.S. House and kept talking about the need for real energy solutions even after the Democrats went home, and turned off the lights & microphones. The uprising broke up on Friday afternoon with the Democratic Leadership breathing a sigh of relief that it was over. 

But the House Republicans weren’t done - they came back yesterday to continue to effort and are still on the floor of the U.S. House talking today.  Per the Speaker’s Office, the C-SPAN cameras remain off and House rules prevent audio or video from escaping the House chamber.

Like the news of the uprising on Friday, the actions of the House Republicans continue to be followed by Republican activists online via Twitter and #dontgo.  The #dontgo movement is, for many, a turning point in Republican politics.  Web guru Patrick Ruffini summarized it this way:

#dontgo is officially a movement. MoveOn is mobilizing against the House Republicans and the rightosphere this afternoon. I don’t think they’ve ever done this in response to a grassroots conservative protest. Something has changed. The Next Right

The petition being pressed by @EricCantor asking Speaker Pelosi to come back to Washington and call the House back into session has already generated 10,000 signatures in the last 24 hours and the #dontgomovement website just went live - the whole effort is gaining speed and the Republican Members of the U.S. House are in the lead.

The whole debate is particularly relevant in high-cost Connecticut.  We pay among the highest prices for gas per gallon in the nation, it is more expensive to use Connecticut electricity than almost anywhere else in the continental United States, and people are sick of it. 

State Senator David Cappiello, who is challenging one-term Congressman Chris Murphy in the Fifth Congressional District, previously encapsulated much of what the ‘All of the Above’ strategy in his ‘Real Energy Solutions NOW’ proposal that he introduced several weeks ago.  We need offshore drilling, nuclear, and a whole host of alternative energy sources to come online and reduce the burden on Connecticut’s economy.

It is encouraging to see fellow Republicans take up this charge and push it in the U.S. Congress and throughout the blogosphere.  Click here to sign the petition.

Yesterday when news of the House GOP Uprising began to leak out, word travelled quickly through GOP circles via Twitter, an increasingly ubiquitous application of new media that allows registered users to track ‘tweets’ from other users, while interjecting your own, via the web, text message, blackberry, or a host of other devices.

U.S. Congressman John Culberson of Texas, one of the House GOP’s most ambitious adopters of Twitter, used his Blackberry to send 140 character bursts of information out into the world, where it was picked up by a handful of State Parties and other activists across the nation.  From there, e-mail blasts went out, fellow GOPers were called, and the word spread like wildfire before FOXNEWS and other outlets finally picked up on the uprising.

The show sent the Speaker’s office into a tizzy, in which they refused to let the American people see the Republicans at work by shutting off the C-SPAN cameras, according to Politico.

C-SPAN has just issued this statement: “A number of media organizations have incorrectly referred to ‘C-SPAN cameras’ being turned off and not providing televised coverage of the GOP House members’ post-adjournment protest on energy policy being held on the House floor on Friday afternoon. Please note that cameras in the House chamber are under the control of the Speaker of the House and that all media organizations, including C-SPAN, wishing to cover events in the chamber must use the official House TV feed.

It’s a lousy day in your office when even C-SPAN is dropping rebuttal releases on you.

At 5pm last night, the uprising ended and the oddly humorous amalgamation of witnesses: “Boy Scouts, members of the German army, stray tourists and even members in shorts and t-shirts (Politico)” went home.  The point was made that the House Democrats couldn’t/wouldn’t stomach legitimate votes on matters of importance to American families. 

The real winner of the day was the House Republican caucus, for showing that Twitter, whose nifty little service allowed for the instant dissemination of messages across the nation to people able to act on it, and other new media applications have a critical role to play in the political process.  It will be interesting to see how many Republican Members of Congress spend a bit of their five week recess learning to Twitter.

Breaking News:  Republicans in the U.S. Congress objected when the Democrats moved to adjourn the House from session just a few moments ago.  After the Democrats rammed through the adjournment motion, the Republicans stayed in the House chamber and continued talking about ways to reduce the price of energy.

The Politico’s ‘The Crypt’ describes the scene this way:

At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on, and the microphones have been turned on as well.

But C-SPAN has stopped broadcasting the House floor, meaning no one is witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has now left.

Only about a half-dozen Republicans were on the floor when this began, but the crowd has grown to about 20 now, according to Patrick O’Connor.

“This is the people’s House,” Rep, Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) said. “This is not Pelosi’s politiburo.” The Crypt

The Crypt is making regular updates on their site, but the best way to find out what is going on is to follow it on the CTGOP Twitter - watch it as it happens, as the House Republicans are broadcasting out from the floor via Twitter.

Update 2:36pm: More details emerging from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to Politico:

Update 5 - Republicans are literally hugging each other on the House floor. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.), not normally known as an distinguished orator, just gave a rousing speech, accusing Democrats of stifling dissent. He referenced President John Quincy Adams, who returned as a House member after being defeated in his bid for re-election as president. Waving his arms and yelling, Manzullo brought the crowd (including a lot of staff shipped in by GOP leaders to fill up the place), and he left the floor to hugs from his colleagues. You don’t see that up here every day.

Update 6 - Rep Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) just pretended to be a Democrat. He stood on the other side of the chaber and listed all of the GOP bills that the Dems killed.

He then said “I am a Democrat and here is my energy plan” and he held up a picture of an old VW Bug with a sail attached to it. He paraded around he house floor with the sign while the crowd cheered.

This is getting good.

Update 3:54pm: The House GOP Uprising continues unabated.  With allegations of pizza ordering flying around the Capitol, the House Republican caucus is still on the floor of the House talking about the need for real energy solutions, including offshore drilling.  The Democrats have gone home and turned off the lights, cameras, & microphones.

Rep. Kevin Brady returned to thunderous applause when it was announced he had gotten off of a plane right before takeoff in order to deliver a speech. He said the day had turned things completely upside down.

The fun continues in Washington.

Cappiello for Congress today announced it has raised $255,000 in the first quarter of 2008. The campaign will report having raised $650,000 to date, with $420,000 cash on hand.

“By any measure, this fundraising quarter has been a complete success,” said Cappiello. “We’ve nearly doubled our fundraising performance from last quarter, and are in a solid financial position heading into spring. Our positive message of returning leadership and results to Washington has been resonating throughout the district, and it has translated into the financial support we’ll need to win in November.”

Of the $254,694 raised this quarter, $242,644, or 95% came from individuals. Over 83% of these contributions came from contributors in the State of Connecticut. To date, Cappiello has raised $652,355, and retains $420,316 on hand.

“I’m most proud of the fact that this quarter reflects the grassroots support we’ve been building throughout the campaign,” Cappiello said. “The fact that 95% of our contributions are from individuals who want a representative who will work for a better, safer, more affordable America shows that the momentum is on our side.”

If you haven’t seen this yet, you should.  South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District is represented in Washington by Republican Bob Inglis.  And like most Congressmen, he has to spend time raising money for his re-election efforts - for the most part, it seems, without the whining of Connecticut Congressman Chris Murphy.  

Instead, Rep. Inglis seems to be having a grand time.  Go visit the Inglis for Congress website and take a look at this priceless gem of an advertisement.  Maybe if Chris Murphy showed a bit more spunk like this, he’d like his job better. 

Enjoy.