Reid Blunder Could Kill Energy Bill

April 26, 2010

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's proposal to push immigration reform ahead of a bipartisan energy bill that was to be released today would not only be an historic strategic blunder that could kill prospects for climate stewardship and building energy security this year, but would leave no doubt that Reid has made his own re-election a higher priority than the welfare of our nation, Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP) said today.

"If Harry Reid goes through with his surprising talk of pushing immigration reform ahead of climate and energy, he will be putting his own political interests above addressing energy and climate challenges that threaten our nation and the world," David Jenkins, REP vice president for government and political affairs, said.

"Senators Graham, Kerry, and Lieberman have spent a great deal of their time and political capital on a good-faith effort to craft and build support for a truly bipartisan bill that would strengthen energy security, boost the economy, and reduce pollution. It is Majority Leader Reid's responsibility to make sure all of that effort and goodwill are not wasted," Jim DiPeso, REP vice president for policy and communications, said.

"With such a short window of opportunity to move legislation this Congress, Senator Reid's erratic decision-making is becoming a liability," Jenkins said. "Right now, he is behaving more like a weather vane, spinning to every political breeze, than a leader."

"The stakes are too high to let this opportunity slip. America is in danger of losing the race for clean energy jobs to China. Thanks to our dangerously high level of oil imports, we pay for both sides of the war on terror. The environmental risks of carbon pollution continue to increase," DiPeso said.

"There is nothing to be gained by once again putting off climate and energy legislation and a great deal to lose," Jenkins said.