Bob Schaffer: For Big Oil

Full Report

Who can break the grip of Big Oil?

America’s addiction to oil causes a host of environmental problems—from oil spills to air pollution to global warming—while harming our economy and jeopardizing our national security. Coloradans deserve a senator who will fight for us to reduce our dependence on oil and protect our environment.

Unfortunately, during his time in Congress, Rep. Schaffer consistently sided with Big Oil and against the interests of Coloradans on issue after issue: from his opposition to clean energy policies to his support for tax breaks for oil companies.

To break the grip of Big Oil, Colorado residents have a clear choice this November. Rep. Mark Udall will fight for Colorado and against Big Oil to bring America to a cleaner, more secure energy future.

America’s Dependence on Oil

America’s dependence on oil hurts our environment and our economy. For example:

• America now imports 58 percent of our oil from abroad—up from 27 percent in 1985—threatening our economy and our national security.[1]

• America spends twice as much each year on gasoline as we did five years ago. That’s an additional $200 billion per year sucked out of American’s pocketbooks, with much of it sent to unfriendly nations overseas.[2]

• America’s use of oil produces more carbon dioxide—the leading global warming pollutant—than the entire economy of any other nation in the world besides China.[3]

• Oil consumption contributes to a host of environmental and public health problems from unhealthy air that affects 125 million Americans[4] to the oil spills that have wreaked havoc on ecosystems all across the country.

Big Oil is standing in the way of a new energy future

There are solutions to America’s dependence on oil. We have the technology to use oil more efficiently, switch to clean alternative fuels, and provide more Americans with a wider range of transportation options. For example:

• The technology exists to make our cars and trucks go much farther on a gallon of gasoline. Automakers could achieve a fleet average of 40 miles per gallon within 10 years with existing technology.[5]

• New technologies such as plug-in hybrids—which use a combination of gasoline and electricity—could allow cars to get more than 100 miles per gallon, while reducing pollution. Several automakers are now racing to produce plug-in hybrids within the next two years.[6]

• Cities across the country are pushing to expand their public transportation systems to accommodate a surge in demand for transportation alternatives. Transit ridership hit a 50-year high in 2007.[7] Interest is also growing in building new high-speed rail links between American cities to provide an alternative to the hassles of flying and driving. High-speed trains can reach up to 200 miles per hour while using far less oil.

Reducing America’s dependence on oil just makes common sense. But Big Oil and its lobbyists in Washington, D.C., have fought smart energy policies every step of the way, while working to protect their own lucrative taxpayer subsidies and immense profits. They’ve even used the crisis of rising oil prices to attain their long-term goal of getting new authority to drill for oil off of some of America’s most treasured coastlines.

The 2008 election and the America’s oil future

The next U.S. Senator from Colorado will be a key vote on a host of important energy issues that will face the next Congress. Big Oil and other powerful industries will use their clout to push policies that pad their profits while keeping America addicted to fossil fuels. If America is to move toward a new energy future, we must elect leaders who are capable of standing up to Big Oil and putting Americans first.

The choice for Coloradans is clear. Bob Schaffer has been a reliable vote for Big Oil. On the other hand, Rep. Udall will be a committed leader fighting on behalf of Coloradans to break the grip of Big Oil and bring America toward a new energy future.

Bob Schaffer: Friend of Big Oil

Bob Schaffer consistently voted against the American people and for Big Oil during his time in Congress. As a member of Congress from 1997 to 2003, Rep. Schaffer:

• Voted to give $21 billion in taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil.[8] That’s $198 for each family in Colorado.[9]

• Voted to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.[10]

• Voted against clean energy policies that would increase the fuel economy standard for cars and light trucks, thereby reducing our dependence on oil.[11] In 2007, the top five oil companies earned as much in profits as it would take 2.9 million Coloradans to earn in a year.[12]

• In addition, Schaffer has taken $151,550 in campaign contributions from the oil industry during this election cycle.[13]

Mark Udall will take on Big Oil and fight for a new energy future

By electing Rep. Mark Udall, Coloradans can ensure that they have a champion fighting for their interests—and not those of Big Oil—in the critical energy battles that face the next Congress. As a member of Congress since 1999, Rep. Udall has:

• Voted to stop Big Oil from raking in record profits with the help of government dollars by supporting[14] an effort to shift $18 billion in subsidies from the largest oil and gas companies toward renewable energy and energy efficiency.

• Voted to increase energy efficiency and create the first national renewable electricity standard, getting us on track to a new energy future.[15]

• Voted for common-sense legislation that would curb the excessive speculation in the energy market that is contributing to inflation of oil prices.[16]

Rep. Mark Udall’s record in Congress shows that he will take on Big Oil and move America toward a new energy future.

About Environment Colorado

We all want clean air, clean water and open space. But it takes independent research and tough-minded advocacy to win concrete results for our environment, especially when powerful interests stand in the way of environmental progress. That's the idea behind Environment Colorado. We focus exclusively on protecting Colorado’s air, water and open space. We speak out and take action at the local, state and national levels to improve the quality of our environment and our lives.

Sources

1 U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Review 2007, 23 June 2008.

2 U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Review 2007, 23 June 2008.

3 Emissions from oil from U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2006, 28 November 2007; International emissions from U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, International Energy Annual 2005, 1 October 2007.  

4 American Lung Association, State of the Air 2008, 2008.

5 Union of Concerned Scientists, Common Sense on Climate Change Solutions #1: Make Better Cars and SUVs, downloaded from www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/global_warming_101/common-sense-solution-1.html, 19 September 2008.

6 Both General Motors and Toyota have pledged to produce plug-in hybrid vehicles within the next several years. See James R. Healey, “Ford, Toyota, GM Get Charged Up for Plug-In Hybrids,” USA Today, 18 January 2008.

7 American Public Transportation Association, 10.3 Billion Trips Taken on Public Transportation Ridership in 2007 – The Highest Level in 50 Years; Ridership Increased as Gas Prices Remained High, press release, 10 March 2008.

8 Securing Americas Future Energy Act, HR 4. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll320.xml. 1 August, 2001.

9 $198 per household based on $21 billion divided by number of households in the United States based on U.S. Census Bureau, State and County Quickfacts: USA, downloaded from quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html, 19 September 2008. $1,320 additional spent on gasoline each year based on U.S. Congress, Joint Economic Committee, Gas Prices: Fast Facts, downloaded from www.jec.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=6b00d96f-7e9c-9af9-74bf-939f486de1d0#relatedDocs, 19 September 2008.

10 Securing Americas Future Energy Act, HR 4. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll320.xml. 1 August, 2001.

11 Securing Americas Future Energy Act, HR 4.  http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll311.xml. 1 August, 2001.

12 Oil industry profits compared with household earnings: Profits from the top five oil companies in 2007 was based on Robert Pirog, Congressional Research Service, Oil Industry Profit Review 2007, 4 April 2008. Equivalent earnings from state residents based on per capita personal income from U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts: State Annual Personal Income, downloaded from http://www.bea.gov/bea/regional/spi/default.cfm?satable=SA30, 19 September 2008.

13 Center for Responsive Politics.  Downloaded from: opensecrets.org.  30 September 2008.

14 Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act, HR 6. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll040.xml. 18 January, 2007.

15 Motion to recommitComprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll598.xml. 16 September, 2008.

16 Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll608.xml. 18 September, 2008.