 It's About How They'll Vote October 25, 2010 ● Marita K. Noon, CDFE Advisory Board In this political season, the airwaves are filled with polls, pundits and propaganda. We hear about candidates who have a history of witchcraft or Marxism. Others have illegal housekeepers or illegitimate children. Which of us has not made some mistake or poor choice in the past? While it would be wonderful if each man or woman running for office had perfect moral standards and strong character, the reality is power corrupts. We are not electing them to be role models, what matters is how they'll vote.
Take the Delaware Senate race: Christine O'Donnell vs. Chris Coons. Let's say they are as bad as the buzz—she a witch and he a Marxist. Which will be worse for America? If she proposes legislation that favors witches, say a coven in every town, how likely is that to get passed? Not! However, if he proposes a bill with Marxist leanings, it has a much higher chance of making it through Congress.
How would either vote on cap and trade? Cap and trade passed the house in June of 2009 and has yet to make the schedule in the Senate—where Christine or Chris are headed. There are murmurings of passing cap and trade in a lame-duck session—where one of them will be voting. What we know about them tells us that she will vote against cap and trade and he will vote for it. It's about how they'll vote.
With the mudslinging going on, it is easy to conclude that both sides are the same. There is temptation to throw up one's hands and decide not to vote, after all "they're all monsters." There is truth to that idea, but they vote differently—therefore, your vote is important. What matters is electing people who will vote the way you want them to on the issues you care about.
Take the Murkowski Resolution. Not a bill or a regulation, the Murkowski Resolution forced Senators to go on record as to where they stood on the powers being usurped by the un-elected regulators, specifically about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) power to regulate greenhouse gases—which it stated they could not do. Along with a handful of Democrats, all of the Republicans supported the resolution. Most Democrats opposed it. It's all about how they vote.
November second is almost upon us. When it comes to energy, it appears that the environment will not be as hostile as it has been for the last couple of years. This is a good thing for jobs, the economy and America. But our responsibility as citizens doesn't end there. The government, and its focus, changes with every election. With it, energy policy shifts. It is time for us to take responsibility and demand that they listen.
The entire TEA Party movement arose out of our frustration that our elected officials were not listening-and they were not. But, when America woke up, stood up, showed up and spoke up the volume made them listen. "We the people" blocked cap and trade. With believers in control of all three houses of government, cap and trade—one of President Obama's many campaign promises-should have passed in early 2009. The House did pass it. But, before the Senate could vote on it, they came home for their August recess and met the people at TEA Parties and Townhalls. Citizens called, wrote and e-mailed. We were heard. To this day, cap and trade has yet to pass and Harry Reid declared it dead one year after the house passed it.
Keep the pressure on, especially after the election. We could have a new tool in the REINS Act (H.R. 3765/S. 3826). In short, the REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny), would “rein” in the out-of-control Executive Branch by requiring congressional approval of major regulations before going into effect. On a broader scale, the REINS Act puts into legislation what the Murkowski Resolution started—only this time it is not limited to the EPA and greenhouse gases. If offers a way to stop the policies that hurt America and the economy that cannot be passed legislatively, but get pushed through the regulatory process. For example, President Obama has threatened that if cap and trade is not passed by Congress, the core will be enforced through the EPA's greenhouse gas regulation.
Following November second—if the results are as the polls indicate, keep calling, writing, and e-mailing. Tell congress to support the REINS Act. Make them vote for you!
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Marita Noon is the Executive Director of Energy Makes America Great Inc., the advocacy arm of CARE (Citizens' Alliance for Responsible Energy), the New Mexico nonprofit organization advocating for citizens' right to energy that is abundant, available, and affordable. CARE works on energy issues state, region and nationwide. Find out more at www.EnergyMakesAmericaGreat.org.
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