 | ||||
| ||||||
-------
Search the Republican Gazette ---->
The Republican Gazette
"Leaving carbon footprints
every chance we get"
Republican of the Year
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
NEWS & NOTES
(Press Release) On WEPM 1340's Panhandle Live Tuesday, Anne Barth said, "They [the oil industry] do already hold thousands of permits for drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. And, I would say, let's start by drilling on the permits that they already hold." Anne Barth masked her opposition to increased domestic drilling by stating, "I don't think we should take that off the table by any means." Let's be clear, Anne Barth is opposed to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR),[1] and in reality she is against increased drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. "If Anne Barth supported off shore drilling, she would say so instead of hiding behind the red herring of 'Use It, or Lose It'," remarked Capito Spokesperson Kent Gates.Barth went on to say, "On the Outer Continental Shelf, 41 million acres are already leased, but we are only producing on 19% of those." While Anne Barth offered no source for this statistic, here are the facts according to the Mineral Management Service (MMS)[2]: Only three percent of the United States' 1.76 billion acres of OCS land is leased for oil and gas explorationMMS conducted 16 OCS oil and natural gas lease sales from 2002-2007 (nine in the Western Gulf of Mexico, two in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico; five in and around Alaska)Nineteen lease sales are scheduled for 2007-2012 with three having been grantedOn allowing drilling in ANWR Barth said, "It's a preserve for future generations to see and enjoy." ANWR is 19 million acres of which 17.5 million acres[3] - more than West Virginia's 15.5[4] million acres - are permanently closed to development. Allowing drilling in ANWR will only impact about 2,000 of those 1.5 million remaining acres - less than one percent of the land. "The reality for most people is that with gasoline over $4.00 a gallon[5], very few West Virginians can afford to visit ANWR now or in the future," commented Gates.Anne Barth says she is for releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.[6] Congresswoman Capito voted to stop adding oil to this reserve earlier this year, but she opposes releasing oil from it because she understands that meeting our energy needs now and in the future does not rest with draining our oil savings account. The solution is to create a comprehensive energy policy that includes drilling, coal, coal-to-liquids, nuclear, solar, wind, biomass and conservation. It is clear that Anne Barth is opposed to increasing the production of domestic oil and is reading off a set of false talking points to camouflage her position with voters who are seeking relief from high gas prices. She seems to be offering a three percent solution to a crisis that demands 100% action by Congress," concluded Gates.Capito campaign: Barth avoids facts by hiding behind 'Use it, Lose it' rhetoric
'Republican of the Year'
The Republican Gazette will be honoring a 2008 Republican of the Year, a first-ever award by the online newspaper."We all need to do a better job of thanking and honoring our die-hard Republican volunteers and activists throughout the year, and this is one way to encourage that," said R-G editor Gary Abernathy.An awards dinner sponsored by the R-G and others will be held in the fall shortly before the November elections, with proceeds going to the West Virginia Republican Party. Submissions can be made to gary@abernathystrategies.com.Kanawha GOP luncheon July 22
The next monthly luncheon of the Kanawha County Republicans will be at noon, Tuesday, July 22nd.The luncheon will take place at the Whitewater Grill (Charleston Marriott). State Senate candidate Bob Adams said today that opponent Herb Snyder’s effort to get county commissions to sign on to create a regional five-county economic zone is a publicity stunt, and noted that Snyder apparently did not discuss the idea in any detail with Eastern Panhandle lawmakers before asking area commissioners to sign on.“What’s clear is that a former State Senator is acting alone, without the support of current members of the State Legislature, on an issue that would directly affect each of them,” said Adams. “While he may have invited them to join him at the Jefferson County Commission meeting, he did not get their support first, making it clear he was proceeding with or without them – which he did, without them. If that’s how he conducts business now, that’s likely how he’ll behave if voters send him back to the Senate.”Adams: Snyder acting alone in pitch for economic zone; goal is for campaign purposes only
Adams said that despite Snyder’s efforts to portray Gov. Joe Manchin as being on board with his plan, “It was in fact the governor who told Herb to go to the county commissions before he would consider the idea, which is the only reason Herb’s even talking to commissioners about his idea.” Adams said at least one Democrat lawmaker even contacted the governor’s office asking what Snyder was up to.Adams said that if Snyder had any goal other than to create news stories for campaign purposes, he would have consulted with fellow lawmakers and asked for their support, instead of taking them by surprise.“We don’t need another legislator who fails to include his colleagues in his initiatives,” said Adams. “And we don’t need yet another study committee or economic zone or any other gimmicks. We need lawmakers who will demand that Charleston pays attention to the needs of Berkeley and Jefferson counties, working as a team with other legislators and officials from our region. That’s what I’ll do if voters give me the privilege of serving the people of the 16th District in the State Senate.”