Istook Calls Pelosi “The New George Wallace”

By Ernest Istook

Environmentalists thought they had a lock on the current “progressive” Congress.

That lock is being pried open by public outrage about fuel and food prices – the consequence of wayward environmentalism run rampant.

Energy has become the biggest issue in America, and left-leaning politicians are either waking up to it or suffering a nightmare.

The repercussions are still in early stages as the ripple effect goes beyond the price of gasoline.

* Ethanol – the left’s favorite remedy (next to bicycling) – has literally come a cropper. The expansive mandate to substitute food for fuel has driven food prices up while doing little for clean air.

* Efforts to pin the blame elsewhere are not going well. Targeting oil speculators has found little traction. Blaming oil companies for not drilling on every current lease hasn’t worked, because people understand there’s not a gusher in every acre.

* Public opinion supports ending congressional bans on drilling where we know we can find oil and gas, offshore in particular. “Drill here, Drill now, Pay less” is a more popular slogan than “Not in my backyard.”

* Mass transit use is up, but that generates demand for more government spending. (Government subsidies pay for 75 percent of transit costs). Those who ride shift their transportation costs off onto taxpayers. Where will the billions come from to pay for this?

People want solutions, but many in Washington are focused on avoiding blame. Congress has dropped even below lawyers as the least-popular folks in America with 91 percent of Americans NOT approving of Congress’ work. Read more…

Related:

Istook: “The Truth on Unused Oil Leases”