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Saturday, August 9, 2008
A GOP divide over energy: Gingrey rejects bipartisan energy proposal pushed by Chambliss, Isakson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, operating in high re-election gear, has suddenly been forced to defend his “Gang of Ten” energy proposal — not from Democratic attacks, but from slashes by fellow Republicans.
On Saturday, U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey declared that Georgia’s two senators — Johnny Isakson is also part of the bipartisan effort — are on the wrong track. Other House Republicans from Georgia are likely to follow Gingrey’s lead.
Reaction started on Friday, when conservative radio godfather Rush Limbaugh declared the “Gang of Ten” energy package to be “bipartisan garbage.”
The current headline on the Limbaugh web site is “Gang of 10 Sells Out House GOP; Stupid Senators Give Gift to Obama.” You get the drift.
On Saturday morning, Gingrey put out a press release that included this:
“While I respect our Senators’ desire to find legislation that reaches consensus with Senate Democrats, the American people are more interested in lower gas prices than in Senate procedural pleasantries.
“The only thing they care about is a comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy plan to lower the cost of fuel. For far too long, this Congress has accepted ‘compromise’ energy legislation and look what it has got us—$4 gasoline,” Gingrey said.
Chambliss and Gingrey were to share a stage in Carrollton at a Republican rally this afternoon. No doubt they had much to talk about.
Chambliss spokeswoman Michelle Grasso said the all-or-nothing approach advocated by Gingrey could prove expensive. “Since the Gang of Ten started meeting, the price of a barrel of crude has dropped $35. This proposal is absolutely doing that,” she said. “We could wait til November and have $6 or $7-a-gallon gasoline.”
And Limbaugh? “He has a right to say what he wants, but this is a solution. Even Rush is paying cheaper prices for gasoline now,” Grasso said.
