Lalor Hammers Hall On Home Heating Relief
-
- August
- 6
Republican congressional candidate Kieran Michael Lalor today ripped Democratic Rep. John Hall in the 19th District race, saying Hall had told voters that he wanted immediate home heating oil “relief,” but didn’t vote in favor of it in Congress last week.
“If Hall were serious about the energy crisis he would be at work in Washington. But he voted for a five-week paid vacation, putting solutions on hold, ” Lalor said in a statement. “Many Americans cannot afford to take a vacation this summer. It is good to know that the energy crisis hasn’t yet affected Hall’s lifestyle, but it is hurting the rest of the Hudson Valley.”
Lalor said he has already collected enough signatures to earn a separate ballot line in November, called “Energy Security Now!,” so voters can cast their ballots for energy and oil reform.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 1:25 pm by Joseph Spector.
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Lalor is wrong about energy and Congressman Hall is too, but for different reasons. Mr. Lalor believes we can drill our way to somethingorother while Mr. Hall believes that drawing down the national reserves will save consumers money. In the end, the only way to lower the cost of energy is to push for conservation, alternatives and to simply use less.
But I have special concern over Mr. Lalor’s attempt to blame the Congressman for high energy prices – that’s just plain silly. Congress’ energy policy has given billions in handouts to the oil giants (something any Republican would be proud of), and shifted alternatives to the back burner. Have you heard anyone in government use the word “conservation?”
With all that money in their bank accounts you’d think Big Oil would give us a break but didn’t Exxon Mobil just complete a $12 BILLION quarter? You can blame Congress for that but not for the high cost of energy.
Moreover, Mr. Lalor’s energy statements are not only wrong they’re downright dangerous to our future.
Maybe if Mr. Lalor would stop breaking the law by having his campaign signs up all over the district he might be taken more seriously. But then again, maybe not.
J
Lalor is at least a realist. Conservation is not a long-term solution. Conservation doesn’t fill gas tanks or home heating oil tanks. Conservation is meritorious but we need something to conserve, and that something comes from exploration, production and refining. Lalor wants to reduce the self-destructive barriers to getting oil out of the ground and into our tanks (that’s a good thing), which will buy us time to develop alternative energy sources. That’s a two-pronged approach that both addresses immediate needs and long-term solutions.
And Mr. Green is not just being silly with his “conservation or nothing” mantra. Lalor isn’t breaking any laws. Call the cops and report him if you think he is. After the laughter stops, they’ll set you straight.
Conservation will work quicker than drilling for oil in currently restricted areas. The DOE estimates that it would take almost 10 years before we saw any oil from new drilling, and that, at most, would lower the price of gas by a few cents, again in 10 years. I fail to see how any vote right now would give us immediate relief, whether a vote on drilling or on heating oil rebate programs. Lalor is just posturing.
Sara,
Mr Lalor was breaking sign laws in every town in Putnam County. First, by placing his signs up in a non-germane election and second by not taking them down within 7 days of the completion of that election. Now, some towns run different numbers but the above is quite representative. It was citizen action that included Republicans that got those signs finally removed. I am pretty sure that with the exception of Wappinger’s, most towns have the same laws. And Sara, I wouldn’t call the cops – it’s not in their bailiwick.
As for your belief that conservation is not a long term solution? I am stunned that anyone can hold that point of view. You’re asking us to sacrifice the well being of humanity today and our children tomorrow so you can continue driving your SUV – cheaply?
If you are going to accuse somebody of breaking a law, at least have the courage to post the text of the law, or the citation to it, so that your claims can be validated. In the absence of any such support, your claims ring hollow.
Conservation is not a “solution” in that it does not solve anything. As I said, conservation is meritorious. It is part of a long-term plan to prolong our ability to use fossil fuels while we develop alternative technologies. But because it is not, of itself, a source of energy, I don’t consider it a “solution” to the current problems we face.
And who said I drive an SUV? You know nothing about me. I happen to be an environmentalist and a conservationist in the truest senses of those words. I am just not a neo-Luddite tree hugger worshiping Gaia in Birkenstocks and a hemp dress.
most towns and counties have rules and regulations as to when political signage can go up. they are local ordinances and they usually allow signs about a month before a primary or general election. lalor is not involved in a primary and has littered the district with his lawn signs for months. lalor’s position accusing Congressman Hall of inaction is pure and simple political bull he is stomping his little feet like his party’s reps in DC. if he was honest and forthright he would compliment Congressman Hall on all he is attempting to do. obviously lalor does not pay attention to local ordinances or what his congressional representative is attempting to do for all americans not only his district.
The Republican candidate is ill-informed about what a Congressional recess – at least for Congressman Hall – is all about. Congressman Hall is out there meeting with his constituents on a regular basis whenever he is in the District – he is the hardest working member of Congress.
As far as drilling is concerned – why aren’t the Republicans supporting the Drill Responsibly in Leased Lands (DRILL) Act, which, if passed, will require companies leasing lands on over 68 million acres (which currently site unused) to “use it or lose it”. Why are the oil companies clamoring for more drilling leases when they aren’t even using the ones they have? Could it be that the oil companies want to corner the supply so that prices will rise even more?
Finally – to say Congressman Hall doesn’t address energy issues is false – he has had a lifelong commitment to the environment and alternative energy, and has continued to work vigorously for both a short term and long term energy policy that addresses the needs of the American people while preserving our energy security for the future.