Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton made the following statement after Exxon Mobil reported the largest quarterly profit ever by a U.S. corporation, $14.83 billion:
“Exxon Mobil and other oil giants continue to run up record profits to maintain the status quo even as Americans struggle to pay the high costs of heating their homes, fueling their cars, and meeting the mounting challenges of a growing economic crisis. And too many in Washington have stood in the way of the changes we need to chart a new energy strategy for our nation that breaks our dependence on foreign oil, reduces global warming pollution, and creates millions of new green collar jobs. I have proposed that we eliminate the tax breaks for big oil companies like Exxon Mobil and use that money to establish a Strategic Energy Fund to speed development of clean energy technology, put more efficient cars on the road, create new jobs, and provide immediate energy relief for the middle class as we head into what could be a difficult winter. It’s time we stop borrowing billions from foreign governments like China to fund our addiction to foreign sources of oil.”
On August 18, 2008 Dan Ward made this press release and announced a 9:00AM Press Conference to be held the following day (19th) at the University at Buffalo CNG fueling station. It said:
Daniel J. Ward, Democratic candidate for New York Senate, 61st District, will call for an immediate pledge from his Democratic opponents, the Amherst Democratic Committee, and the Erie County Democratic Committee to join him in refusing direct or indirect oil industry political contributions.It is imperative that this latest round of fuel problems be the last. It is time our fuel needs be firmly dealt with. Ward will call for conversion of all government owned and operated vehicles be replaced with energy efficient alternative or hybrid fuel vehicles. Any roadblocks that currently exist which result in restricting research and development of alternative fuels, or the production of such fuels and vehicles within New York State, Erie County, and on the local level need to be eliminated.
“We need to make a serious commitment to solving our energy crisis by the utilization of all kind of alternative, particularly renewable, forms of energy. We have to take a hard look at use of hybrids, CNG, Electric, Hydrogen, Compressed Air, etc. type transportation systems for individual and mass transit use We need to begin developing a state tax policy that encourages implementation today, not tomorrow or down the road.
I have routinely advanced concepts of electric cars and solar-paneled buildings while in the County Legislature. I played a part in the Town of Amherst decision in 1996 to provide $30,000 in seed money for the development of this Univ. at Buffalo CNG fueling station. In the interest of the residents of the 61st State Senate District and Western New York, the time to act is now. We cannot afford to grow complacent again.”
Well, other than the Supervisor of the University Fleet Maintenance Dept. and myself no one form the local media attended and all were invited. I know. I invited them. No one from the Amherst Democratic Committee attended. Does that come across as lack of social, economic and political interest?
Now that Ms. Clinton has expressed her opinion on oil profits and the need for energy independence it has become news and is worth disseminating. That should lead the reader to believe that plenty of good ideas die, in New York State and around the country, because we are not as much interested in the message as we are in the messenger.
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