Roy Blunt: “I think you will be able to characterize our remarks in one of two ways: One is that we are continuing to encourage…”

“I think you will be able to characterize our remarks in one of two ways: One is that we are continuing to encourage domestic exploration; the other is we are trying to do things that reach energy independence. Following up on the bill that moved us toward energy independence that was passed in 2005 would have been a good idea. The efforts to have an energy bill this year are a good idea. But this bill imposes taxes double that already passed in H.R. 6. This would hurt our investment in energy independence and domestic supply. Things that raise gas prices, things that don't allow us to fully utilize our resources, things that continue to make us more and more dependent on parts of the world that don't like us can't be a good idea. There is nothing wrong with buying things from people who don't like you, but there is something really dumb about having to buy things from people who don't like you. This bill heads us more in that direction. The incentives for many conservation measures are allowed to expire in this bill.”