Is Smith Still Cool To Solving Global Warming?
As the world turns its attention to Global Warming with three international conferences in America this week, what does Gordon Smith have to say on the issue?
Has he changed his position since 2003 when The Daily Astorian said his climate change position would earn him induction into the Flat Earth Society?
Or does he stand by a voting record that only hastens climate change?
Smith has voted against proposals to reduce green house emissions, against boosting CAFE standards, and for windfall profits for Big Oil. In each of the following votes, Smith voted opposite Oregon’s other U.S. Senator, Democrat Ron Wyden.
SMITH'S VOTES:
Smith Repeatedly Voted Against Bipartisan Proposal To Reduce Green House Emissions.
In 2005, Smith voted against an amendment to limit greenhouse emissions. Sen. John McCain's amendment would have limited greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2010. The amendment would also have allowed the trading of emission allowances and reductions through a government sponsored greenhouse gas database that maintained an inventory of emissions and a registry of reductions. Smith had voted against a similar plan in 2003. [Vote 148, 6/22/05; CBS, Market Watch, 6/22/05; Union Leader, 10/31/03; Vote 420, 10/30/03]
Smith Twice Voted Against Boosting CAFE Standards.
In 2005, Smith voted against an amendment that would have mandated phased increases in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Passenger vehicles made before 2008 would have to average 25 miles per gallon. The standard would gradually increase to 40 miles per gallon by model year 2016. Non-passenger vehicles made before 2008 would have to average 17 miles per gallon. By model year 2016, the standard would rise to an average of 27.5 miles per gallon. Smith voted against a similar amendment in 2003. The amendment would have also closed the so-called "SUV loophole."
[Vote 157, 6/29/05; Vote 309, 7/29/03]
Smith Voted Against Cutting Oil Imports By 40%.
In 2005, Smith voted against a proposal to reduce America‘s dependency on foreign oil by 40% over the next 20 years.
[Vote 140, 6/16/05]
Smith Helped Protect $5 Billion Big Oil Tax Windfall.
Tax loopholes that save the oil industry $5 billion were removed from the original Senate version of the GOP tax reconciliation bill in February 2006, but after heavy lobbying by the industry, Congressional negotiators reinserted them into the final bill. The $5 billion tax break for big-oil could have been used instead to partially offset the increase in middle class taxes. Gordon Smith voted for the final tax bill with the big-oil tax breaks.
[Republican Policy Committee, 2/7/06; Washington Post, 4/26/06; Joint Tax Committee, 5/9/06; Vote 118, 5/11/06]
Smith Twice Rejected Windfall Profits Tax for Big Oil in 2005.
In November 2005, Smith voted against imposing a temporary 50% tax on oil company profits from the sale of any crude oil above $40 a barrel. Revenues from the tax would be used to provide income tax rebates to consumers. The same day, Smith voted against a separate but similar windfall tax amendment that would use the revenue to provide a $100 income tax credit for every personal exemption.
[Vote 331, 11/17/05; Vote 341, 11/17/05; Houston Chronicle, 11/17/05; Las Vegas Review-Journal, 11/18/05; Environment and Energy Daily¸ 11/18/05]
Posted September 26, 2007 Environment 1 comments
Comments
Sounds like Smith is a piece of work... or is it a POS? Regardless. You should have links to substantiate each of your claims so that people won't think you're just pulling this out of your butt.
Willamette Week made Gordon Smith rogue of the week. "This week's rogue, U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith , finds himself on the business end of a wagging finger for pandering to big-money corporations and preaching voodoo economics.
The Pendleton Republican worked this week to push through a bill that would give a massive one-time tax break for the foreign profits of U.S. companies in exchange for a dubious promise of future job growth.
The bill, which passed through the Senate Finance Committee last week, would slash taxes on $300 billion in profits that U.S. companies currently hold overseas, cutting the tax rate on such gains from 35 percent to 5.25 percent. The offer would be good for only one year..."
Steve Novick takes on Smitthie can be read over there at BlueOregon.
"Twice this week, Smith voted against collecting billions from Big Oil companies to fund alternative energy... " From a blog on June 22.
Time to rid Oregon of it's funk. No more GW, no more GS.
Batman Tempest
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