Joe Lieberman: “I also contest a characterization of support for this proposal. Contrary to what has been said, it is clear that the…”

“I also contest a characterization of support for this proposal. Contrary to what has been said, it is clear that the American labor movement is not universally enthusiastic about this bill. In fact, the well of union support is drying up. Many unions, including the largest union in America, SEIU, and the United Steelworkers of America, see more jobs in investing in the technologies of the future. Why are the union members lining up in opposition to the drilling plan? The fact is a broad range of union members and leaders understand that a strategic long-term energy strategy is a much more effective way to help spur the production not only of energy but of permanent jobs in a wide range of economic sectors. Drilling in the Arctic Refuge represents a distraction from the real needs of our economy and the real needs of the working people of America. The other alternatives I cite: investments in efficiency, conservation, and alternative energy sources, are realistic, strategic, and ready to go. It is disappointing to me that in this era of dramatic technological progress in so many areas of human activity, we readily celebrate the advances, including in the fields of oil exploration, but fail to see the promise of this next age of alternative efficient energy technologies.”