Day 11: Bachmann Loves Renewable Energy but Cannot Bring Herself to Vote For It!
Comments
We have officially reached our 11th day of Bachmann LTE's in the St. Cloud Times. While the spread of Bachmann Overexposure Syndrome is likely to worsen amongst the population in general and the frequent story chatters in particular, it is important to note that without these daily gems of wisdom from Bachmann sycophants and detractors I would have to resort to discussing the vagaries of the Bush Administration (and who wants that!).


This one is interesting in that it makes a fairly bold claim that Bachmann supports renewable energy. Unfortunately, a little investigation into the voting record shows a much different story.

Let's take a look:

Letter: Bachmann stood up for U.S. families with vote
By Brad Northenscold, Waite Park

Published: August 23. 2007 12:30AM

It's easy to sit on the sidelines and criticize, especially when it comes to environmental issues. But elected officials must be more responsible and look at the big picture when making their decisions.

Thanks go to U.S. 6th District Rep. Michele Bachmann, who stood up for American families by opposing H.R. 3221, legislation that would increase gas prices, stifle domestic energy production and weaken our national security.

The Aug. 15 letter "Bachmann sided with polluters on key issue" mischaracterized the 15 percent renewable electricity standard mandated in H.R. 3221 by ignoring its inevitable consequences.

The RES mandate will result in a heavy tax on consumers as electric bills become more expensive, particularly in states that do not possess the resources to fulfill it.

I support renewable energy and so does Bachmann. She's been part of the effort to provide incentives for solar energy and other renewable resources, and she's joined her Minnesota colleagues in the U.S. House Renewable Energy Caucus.

But as we've seen in Minnesota, implementing a RES is best left to the residents of a state to decide. Should Congress harm consumers by forcing this mandate on those states who cannot achieve it? In voting against this provision, Michele Bachmann answered no. Thank goodness for big picture common sense.

A search for 'renewable energy' at the Library of Congress website brought back 109 results. I have added only those items in which Michele was able to register a vote or that she has sponsored/cosponsored.

H.R.6
Title: An Act to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers from price gouging, to increase the energy efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] (introduced 1/12/2007) Cosponsors (198)
Related Bills: H.RES.66, H.R.453, S.103
Latest Major Action: 6/21/2007 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 65 - 27. Record Vote Number: 226.

MAJOR ACTIONS:
1/12/2007 Introduced in House
1/18/2007 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 264 - 163 (Roll no. 40).
6/21/2007 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 65 - 27. Record Vote Number: 226.


*Bachmann voted NO to H.R. 6.

H.R.2641
Title: Making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] (introduced 6/11/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Related Bills: H.RES.481, S.1751
Latest Major Action: 7/18/2007 Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.
House Reports: 110-185, 110-185 Part 2
MAJOR ACTIONS:
6/11/2007 Introduced in House
6/11/2007 The House Committee on Appropriations reported an original measure, H. Rept. 110-185, by Mr. Visclosky.
7/13/2007 Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Appropriations, H. Rept. 110-185, Part II.
7/17/2007 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 312 - 112 (Roll no. 641).
7/18/2007 Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 274.


*Bachmann voted NO to H.R. 2641.

H.R.2776
Title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation.
Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] (introduced 6/19/2007) Cosponsors (21)
Related Bills: H.RES.615, H.R.3221
Latest Major Action: 8/4/2007 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 189 (Roll no. 835).
House Reports: 110-214
Note: On 8/4/2007, pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 615, the text of H.R. 2776, as passed by the House, was appended at the end of the text of H.R. 3221 as new matter. See H.R. 3221 for further action.
MAJOR ACTIONS: .
MAJOR ACTIONS:
6/19/2007 Introduced in House
6/27/2007 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 110-214.
8/4/2007 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 189 (Roll no. 835).


*Bachmann voted NO to H.R. 2776. This one even provides tax incentives!

H.R.3221
Title: Moving the United States toward greater energy independence and security, developing innovative new technologies, reducing carbon emissions, creating green jobs, protecting consumers, increasing clean renewable energy production, and modernizing our energy infrastructure.
Sponsor: Rep Pelosi, Nancy [CA-8] (introduced 7/30/2007) Cosponsors (18)
Related Bills: H.RES.615, H.R.2776, H.R.3220
Latest Major Action: 8/4/2007 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 241 - 172 (Roll no. 832).
MAJOR ACTIONS:
7/30/2007 Introduced in House
8/4/2007 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 241 - 172 (Roll no. 832).


*Bachmann voted NO to H.R. 3221.

H.RES.66
Title: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6) to reduce our Nation's dependency on foreign oil by investing in clean, renewable and alternative energy resources, promoting new emerging energy alternatives, developing greater efficiency, and creating a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to invest in alternative energy, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] (introduced 1/16/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Related Bills: H.R.6
Latest Major Action: 1/18/2007 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 230 - 194 (Roll no. 36).
House Reports: 110-2
MAJOR ACTIONS:
1/16/2007 Introduced in House
1/16/2007 The House Committee on Rules reported an original measure, H. Rept. 110-2, by Mr. McGovern.
1/18/2007 Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 230 - 194 (Roll no. 36).


*Bachmann voted NO to H.Res. 66.

H.RES.615
Title: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3221) moving the United States toward greater energy independence and security, developing innovative new technologies, reducing carbon emissions, creating green jobs, protecting consumers, increasing clean renewable energy production, and modernizing our energy infrastructure, and for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2776) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation.
Sponsor: Rep Welch, Peter [VT] (introduced 8/3/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Related Bills: H.R.2776, H.R.3221
Latest Major Action: 8/4/2007 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 215 - 191 (Roll no. 826).
House Reports: 110-300
MAJOR ACTIONS:
8/3/2007 Introduced in House
8/3/2007 The House Committee on Rules reported an original measure, H. Rept. 110-300, by Mr. Welch (VT).
8/4/2007 Passed/agreed to in House: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 215 - 191 (Roll no. 826).


*Bachmann voted NO to H.Res. 615.

Thus far Bachmann has voted NO on every major renewable energy bill and resolution to come before the United States House of Representatives. Well, maybe its unfair to just look at her voting record rather than simply taking her at her word. How about amendments? Perhaps Michele has tried to advance renewable energy through amendments!

H.AMDT.323 (A008)
Amends: H.R.2641
Sponsor: Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] (offered 6/19/2007)

AMENDMENT DESCRIPTION:
An amendment to reduce the appropriation in the bill for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by $101,550,000.

AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
An amendment numbered 21 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce the appropriation in the bill for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by $101,550,000.

STATUS:

    6/19/2007 3:17pm:
    Amendment (A008) offered by Mr. Campbell (CA). (consideration: CR H6701-6703, H6719-6720; text: CR H6701)
    6/19/2007 6:04pm:
    On agreeing to the Campbell (CA) amendment (A008) Failed by recorded vote: 107 - 320 (Roll no. 509).

*Bachmann voted YES to H.Amdt. 323. Hooray for Michele, she voted YES to renewable energy! Wait a minute, since when does a supporter of renewable energy try to reduce funding for renewable energy.

H.AMDT.748 (A006)
Amends: H.R.3221
Sponsor: Rep Udall, Tom [NM-3] (offered 8/4/2007)

AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
An amendment numbered 6 printed in Part B of House Report 110-300 to require electric suppliers, other than governmental entities and rural electric cooperatives, to provide 15 percent of their electricity using renewable energy resources by the year 2020. Allows 4 percent of the requirement to be satisfied with electricity efficiency measures.

STATUS:

    8/4/2007 1:40pm:
    Amendment (A006) offered by Mr. Udall (NM). (consideration: CR H9844-9852, H9872-9873; text: CR H9844-9847)
    8/4/2007 4:39pm:
    On agreeing to the Udall (NM) amendment (A006) Agreed to by recorded vote: 220 - 190 (Roll no. 827).

*Bachmann voted NO to H.Amdt. 748.

Well, her amendment record doesn't help prove that she is in favor of renewable energy. In fact, it kind of reflects a person who is opposed to both funding renewable energy and the concept of renewable energy given her opposition to even the tax incentive idea of Charlie Rangel. So, perhaps her sponsored bills will reflect a support of renewable energy. Nope, only two sponsored bills and nothing to do with renewable energy. So, it must be in the cosponsored bills that her renewable energy support lies.

H.R.2784
Title: To greatly enhance the Nation's environmental, energy, economic, and national security by terminating long-standing Federal prohibitions on the domestic production of abundant offshore supplies of natural gas, to dedicate fixed percentages of the resultant royalties for environmental restoration projects, renewable energy and carbon sequestration research, and weatherization and energy assistance for those in need, and to share a portion of such royalties with producing States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Peterson, John E. [PA-5] (introduced 6/20/2007) Cosponsors (155)
Latest Major Action: 6/29/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.


*Bachmann is a cosponsor of this bill which tries to give renewable energy the table scraps of increasing exploration and drilling of nonrenewable resources. So, she seems to be saying that renewable energy is the red headed step child of oil and gas. Only after the latter has had its fill will the former be fed.

H.R.550
Title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the investment tax credit with respect to solar energy property and qualified fuel cell property, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] (introduced 1/18/2007) Cosponsors (116)
Related Bills: S.590
Latest Major Action: 1/18/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.


*The HOLY GRAIL! The one serious attempt to support renewable energy! So, after voting against SEVEN renewable energy measures, voting FOR one amendment that reduces funding to renewable energy, and cosponsoring ONE measure that merely extends a tax credit already in place, Brad wants us to believe that Michele Bachmann supports renewable energy?

You be the judge...
Category: , ,
��