A Test for Senators

Last night the President challenged the nation to move aggressively toward energy independence.

“For decades,” he said, “we have failed to act with the sense of urgency that this challenge requires. Time and again, the path forward has been blocked — not only by oil industry lobbyists, but also by a lack of political courage and candor.”

It  now looks like the Senate will debate its response over the next four weeks, culminating in a vote during the 2^nd week of July.  As this debate goes forward, every Senator must be asked if the energy proposals they support truly fulfill the

“sense of urgency this challenge requires”.

We cannot afford another “energy bill” like we’ve had in the past – a weakened, lobbyist-crafted collection of half-measures, like those passed in 2005 and 2007.  Business as usual is what put us in this situation, where millions of barrels of oil pour into the Gulf, and billions of dollars flow to the Middle East.  As the President said,

“The consequences of our inaction are now in plain sight. We cannot consign our children to this future…Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash American innovation and seize control of our own destiny.”

Each senator must be asked if the policy they support truly meets this test.  And if they will join the President in pledging to refuse to

“settle for the paltry limits of conventional wisdom.”