Blake Moore: “we must reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil. And while I believe our nation needs a comprehensive energy…”

“we must reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil. And while I believe our nation needs a comprehensive energy policy as a matter of national security, we also have an obligation to ensure that this need is met in a manner that does not jeopardize our financial security. This bill takes a balanced approach to meeting our nation's energy security needs. But, it fails to pay for any of these proposals, which have a cost of $18.8 billion. H.R. 6 contains numerous provisions that I have supported in the past and will continue to support in the future under fiscally responsible circumstances. In fact, H.R. 6 includes a provision based upon a bill that I introduced during the last three Congresses that would extend the section 29 tax credit for the production of unconventional fuels such as coalbed methane. My version of this legislation [H.R. 1331] was modified and included in the Ways and Means portion of H.R. 6. I have worked for months to ensure H.R. 1331's inclusion in a comprehensive energy measure. And, while I would like to be able to vote for this provision, I cannot in good conscience support final passage of a bill that includes $18.8 billion in tax expenditures that are not offset with comparable spending reductions. This is fiscally irresponsible. Such action threatens to spend money from both the Social Security and Medicare Trust funds on which the seniors in my district rely.”