With Just 10 Voting Days Left in Congress, Sestak and Democrats Stalling on Comprehensive Energy Legislation

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RELEASE - With Just 10 Voting Days Left in Congress, Sestak and Democrats Stalling on Comprehensive Energy Legislation

Williams says Sestak and Democrats are trying to run out the clock; House should be in discussions with Senate now on comprehensive energy bill

Craig Williams said today that Congressman Joe Sestak and his fellow Democrats are engaged in a cynical effort to run out the legislative session without having to enact comprehensive energy legislation. Again the Congress adjourned yesterday as Republicans were coming to the floor to debate the American Energy Act and turned off the lights and microphones on their colleagues. Williams now predicts Democrats will throw together last minute legislation that would have no hope of gaining bi-partisan support or approval by the U.S. Senate.

"If Joe Sestak and Democrats were truly concerned about enacting a comprehensive energy policy to move our nation forward, they would be working day and night to hammer out details and compromises with Republican leadership and the U.S. Senate," said Williams. "But instead, Sestak and the Democrats again rejected Republican efforts to bring up the American Energy Act for debate and a vote."

The American Energy Act, which Sestak voted to block this week, would improve energy conservation and efficiency by providing tax incentives for businesses and families that purchase more fuel efficient vehicles; provide a monetary prize for developing the first economically feasible, super-fuel-efficient vehicle reaching 100 miles-per-gallon, and provide tax incentives for businesses and homeowners who improve their energy efficiency.

The American Energy Act would also increase the supply of American made-energy by allowing the recovery of oil and natural gas off shore; allowing for the recovery of oil from the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge; allowing development of the nation's oil shale resources, and remove the bureaucratic red tape that blocks the construction of new refineries; permanently extend the tax credit for alternative energy production, including wind, solar and hydrogen; eliminate barriers to the expansion of emission-free nuclear power production, and promoting coal-to-liquids technology.

"I understand that the Democrats may not support every single aspect of this bill, but they should at least have the debate, offer amendments to take out portions they object to, and allow an up or down vote on the legislation," said Williams. "Instead, they went out of session yet again, leaving just 10 voting days left before the election. They are trying to run out the clock and will try to ram some abysmal piece of legislation through the House, knowing full well that it has no hope of passing in the U.S. Senate. That is bad public policy and a betrayal of the responsibilities Members of Congress have to the American people."

Craig Williams is running for Congress the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, comprising most of Delaware County and parts of Montgomery and Chester Counties. Williams is a former federal prosecutor, Marine combat veteran, and former active duty Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He lives in Concord Township, Delaware County, with his wife Jennifer, daughter and two step-children. The 7th District is his home - where he lives, where his kids go to school, where he pays taxes, where he attends church, and where he intends to spend the rest of his life.

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