The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Re: Has Upton Seen the Light?

It’s more than just his 180º on the incandescent light bulb. The representative from Michigan’s 6th District really wants the Energy and Commerce Committee chairmanship. Just look at what’s posted on his Congressional web page:

POLITICO: Fortifying Our Energy Security
December 6, 2010
On 50th Anniversary of ANWR, Upton Urges President to Open Vast Reserves
December 6, 2010
THE DAILY CALLER: Rep. Upton urges President Obama to open ANWR
December 6, 2010
THE DAILY CALLER: Now is the time to slash subsidies (for renewables)
December 3, 2010
THE HILL: Upton probes Interior’s offshore oil permitting, warns against delays
December 3, 2010
Upton Calls On EPA for Greater Transparency Over Potentially Devastating Cooling Water Regulations
December 3, 2010
DES MOINES REGISTER: Possible House energy chief slams subsidies
Dec 3, 2010

These are all pieces penned by somebody in Upton’s camp or are about Upton. Clearly his staff is on a campaign to shore up his credibility with conservative leadership (and grassroots) showing that he supports the development of domestic fossil fuels, and opposes subsidies for Left-favored alternative energy boondoggles. For example, here’s an excerpt from the Dec. 3 Daily Caller piece with his byline:

One realm that demands cuts are the renewable energy subsidies that have become so engrained in the renewable energy sector. While renewable energy has a place in an “all of the above” strategy, there is a right way and a wrong way to develop renewable resources. Carelessly throwing taxpayer money at it is the wrong way. Alarmingly, the U.S. government has spent over $10 billion a year for the past ten years on these subsidies. Imagine how $100 billion could be deployed in a far more productive manner, such as for debt repayment or tax cuts. The subsidies were originally promoted as a way to get the renewables industry going, but they have become a crutch; the businesses are allowed to ignore the rules of survival in a competitive marketplace since they know that they will get their cash flow no matter what.

The scales fell off…?

topics:
Energy, Alternate Energy, Republicans

About the Author

Paul Chesser is executive director for the American Tradition Institute and a senior fellow for the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives. The views he expresses do not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations.

http://spectator.org/blog/2010/12/07/re-has-upton-seen-the-light

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