Lincoln Diaz-Balart - Big Oil's Best Friend
Posted: Jun 13, 2008Miami FL - The cost of fuel is smothering the American consumer in ways that have never been seen in the history of United States. In a time when Americans are losing their homes, their jobs and their sanity, Big Oil companies are posting BILLIONS in quarterly profits. The cause, do-nothing corrupt elected politicians that favor big business over the American voter. One of these do-nothing politicians is Lincoln Diaz-Balart.
Diaz–Balart has consistently voted to protect the interests of oil companies over consumers by voting in support of tax cuts for big oil while opposing efforts to bring relief on gas prices. He also has a long record of opposing legislation to crack down on price gouging.
Diaz–Balart chose to give subsidies to oil companies and protect them against energy efficiency standards. Diaz–Balart has accepted more than $80,400 from the Energy and Natural Resources industry since 1989 and accepted $14,200 the oil and gas industry during the 2007–2008 election cycle.
In 2007, Diaz–Balart voted against comprehensive energy legislation that would raise automobile fuel–efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years and require increased use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity.
Top officials categorized the legislation as “a new direction” in U.S. energy policy away from dependence on fossil fuels.
• The bill would boost corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards by 40 percent, to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, the first such action since 1975, when Congress first enacted the federal auto fuel economy requirements.
• The bill would expand the use of ethanol sevenfold to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022 with 21 billion gallons coming from cellulosic feedstock such as wood chips and prairie grass.
• The bill would require electric utilities to produce at least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020 and direct the Energy Department to set new energy efficiency standards for appliances and building construction.
It also would eliminate or reduce $13 billion in subsidies and tax breaks for the five major oil and gas companies to be used for tax incentives for development of renewable energy sources like ethanol from grasses and wood chips and biodiesel and for energy efficiency programs and conservation. [Congressional Quarterly; Associated Press, 12/06/07]
In addition to stonewalling on improving energy standards, Diaz–Balart voted against tougher price gouging laws. In 2005, Diaz–Balart voted against a motion to grant new authority to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate, enforce and then punish price gouging and market manipulation. Any violation would result in new civil penalties, and would be enforced with up to triple the damages of the profits gained by the violation. [Congressional Record, pg H8790, 10/7/05]
Lincoln Diaz–Balart’s dismal record of standing up for working class Americans is just one of the reasons why voters are turning their backs on the GOP. Recent voter statistics have shown a trend that is impossible to deny. In the month of May Democrats gained nearly 1000 new voters in Florida’s 21st congressional district alone.
In the past 18 months voters have shunned Lincoln Diaz–Balart and the GOP by the thousands. District 21 has seen an increase of over 10,600 registered Democrats according to Miami–Dade and Broward county voter registrations figures. These figures highlight voter dissatisfaction with the failed policies of the Bush administration and the rubberstamp members of congress that have upheld and supported them.
Diaz–Balart chose to give subsidies to oil companies and protect them against energy efficiency standards. Diaz–Balart has accepted more than $80,400 from the Energy and Natural Resources industry since 1989 and accepted $14,200 the oil and gas industry during the 2007–2008 election cycle.
In 2007, Diaz–Balart voted against comprehensive energy legislation that would raise automobile fuel–efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years and require increased use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity.
Top officials categorized the legislation as “a new direction” in U.S. energy policy away from dependence on fossil fuels.
• The bill would boost corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards by 40 percent, to an industry average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020, the first such action since 1975, when Congress first enacted the federal auto fuel economy requirements.
• The bill would expand the use of ethanol sevenfold to 36 billion gallons a year by 2022 with 21 billion gallons coming from cellulosic feedstock such as wood chips and prairie grass.
• The bill would require electric utilities to produce at least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020 and direct the Energy Department to set new energy efficiency standards for appliances and building construction.
It also would eliminate or reduce $13 billion in subsidies and tax breaks for the five major oil and gas companies to be used for tax incentives for development of renewable energy sources like ethanol from grasses and wood chips and biodiesel and for energy efficiency programs and conservation. [Congressional Quarterly; Associated Press, 12/06/07]
In addition to stonewalling on improving energy standards, Diaz–Balart voted against tougher price gouging laws. In 2005, Diaz–Balart voted against a motion to grant new authority to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate, enforce and then punish price gouging and market manipulation. Any violation would result in new civil penalties, and would be enforced with up to triple the damages of the profits gained by the violation. [Congressional Record, pg H8790, 10/7/05]
Lincoln Diaz–Balart’s dismal record of standing up for working class Americans is just one of the reasons why voters are turning their backs on the GOP. Recent voter statistics have shown a trend that is impossible to deny. In the month of May Democrats gained nearly 1000 new voters in Florida’s 21st congressional district alone.
In the past 18 months voters have shunned Lincoln Diaz–Balart and the GOP by the thousands. District 21 has seen an increase of over 10,600 registered Democrats according to Miami–Dade and Broward county voter registrations figures. These figures highlight voter dissatisfaction with the failed policies of the Bush administration and the rubberstamp members of congress that have upheld and supported them.
