Joe Barton’s Bad Deeds

Joe Barton’s Bad Deeds – There’s a battle shaping up over the Energy Independence Bill that Congress hopes to pass this fall and it’s not just Dems vs Repubs. The House version, HR 3221 is due to be voted on soon. This is a new approach to energy policy in the United States and instead of concentrating on how to punch more holes in the ground and give bigger tax breaks to EXXON/Mobile it actually takes a long view of conservation and alternative energy production. And therein lies the rub.

The bill calls for a 25% increase in CAFÉ fuel economy standards, a four fold increase in bio fuel production and 15% of electricity generation to come from renewable sources over the next decade. In keeping with the new Democrat rule of pay-as-you-go the increased R&D into renewable energy will be paid for by recovering the $16 Billion in tax breaks to big oil given out by the Republicans when the held the majority in Congress.

Representative Joe Barton, of the College Station area, opposes the new mileage standards and the tax recovery. Joe is also put out over the House rule that requires members to move to energy efficient cars if they are paid for with constituent money. Did you know that you’re renting an 8,000 pound Chevy Tahoe with the largest V8 engine available to haul Barton around?

I’d suggest that you call Joe Barton and ask him to support the strict standards in HR 3221 to give our children a fighting chance at clean air and a renewable future but I won’t ask you to waste your time. The half a million dollars he gets from the energy sector speaks louder than we do. Instead you can call Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. Congressional rules forbid representatives responding to queries outside their districts but as Speaker of the House Ms, Pelosi has a responsibility to all of us and can take your call. The phone number for Office of the Speaker is (202) 225-0100. Tell her to twist arms to keep the strict provisions of HR 3221 in tact.

Background for Joe Barton: Following college Barton entered private industry until 1981 when he became a White House Fellow. Later, he began consulting for Atlantic Richfield Oil and Gas Co. before being elected to Congress in 1984.

Rep. Barton has been regarded as a global warming skeptic and his opposition to addressing global warming has been consistent and long-term. As a powerful chairman with primary responsibility over the energy sector, Barton has consistently acted over the years to prevent congressional action on global warming .

Rep. Barton has launched an investigation into two climate change studies from 1998 and 1999. In his letters to the authors of the studies, he requested not just details on the studies themselves, but significant information about their entire lives and previous studies. This has been widely regarded as an attempted attack on the scientists rather than a serious attempt to understand the science.
Barton has consistently opposed proposals to reduce the nation’s dependence on oil.

Barton says he supports family values, but like many of his Republican friends, he does not act in a supporting manner. Barton divorced his first wife.
Barton says he supports ethics, but, Citizens for Ethics reported that Barton paid his wife Terri $57,759 in salary and bonuses, from his campaign funds in the 2006 election cycle. Barton’s daughter Kristin was paid $12,622 in salary and bonuses and his mother, Nell Barton, was paid $7,000 for a car.

Regards,

Jim