Cliff Stearns: “Today Californians are experiencing rolling blackouts, rising energy costs and out-of-control gasoline prices. I fear…”

“Today Californians are experiencing rolling blackouts, rising energy costs and out-of-control gasoline prices. I fear that this will happen in the other States if we are not careful. The solution to our current energy crisis is simple, choice and competition, not more regulation and price controls like the discharge petition that the Democrats are talking about. Governor Davis, with the support of environmentalists and government control advocates, raised barriers and actively sought to prohibit the construction of new power plants. Now the Democrats in Washington want to make the Gray Davis approach to energy the national approach to our energy here in Washington. Mr. Speaker, it is clear what the results will be if they achieve their goal. What is happening in California will happen in the rest of the country. Blackouts will roll from California all of the way to the eastern seaboard. From family to farmer, all Americans will be affected. We do not want this to happen. We need to have choice and competition. Let there not be a reoccurrence. Let us take the right approach to energy, and work to increase production, reduce regulation and encourage conservation.”