Burton, Buyer Taking Action on Energy Concerns, While Carson Sings Kumbaya

Three of Indiana’s Congressmen are taking steps towards moving our country towards energy independence. Well, really only two are, Congressmen Dan Burton and Steve Buyer, while the other, the 7th CD’s rookie Congressman Andre “Juggernaut” Carson is linking arms and singing Kumbaya with Nancy Pelosi while seeking to penalize drilling companies at the same time.

But let’s take a look at what each Congressman is doing.

(Read more after the leap)

Back in May, Congressman Steve Buyer introduced H.R. 6001, the Main Street U.S.A. Energy Security Act of 2008. The purpose of that bill is three fold: 1) To re-balance the United States energy portfolio, 2) increase and utilize the Nation’s domestic energy resources and supply and 3) strengthen energy security and independence.

This past Thursday, Congressman Burton introduced H.R. 6544, the Relief Now on the Road to Renewable Energy Act of 2008. This bill is designed to provide immediate relief from high fuel and food prices and to pursue alternatives in renewable energy.

How you ask?

I’ve touched on Congressman Burton’s Energy Plan before, but essentially Burton’s bill calls for expanding refinery capacities, encouraging the building of new refineries, while opening up drilling in ANWR, where Mike Sodrel and Luke Puckett were last week and where Minority Leader John Boehner is this week, and in the Continental Shelf.

Here’s what I like about Congressman Burton’s plan however. It goes beyond drilling. Didn’t expect that from a Republican now did you. Here’s the thing. Republicans and Democrats are to blame for the predicament were in. The Burton Energy Plan understands that. So while it still calls for an expansion in drilling, it also gives incentives for those who buy hybrid cars and for those who seek to make their homes more energy efficient through solar power and fuel cells. It also rewards those homes and businesses that have already been doing this for some time.

It pushes for further research and gives incentives for coal to liquid fuel programs, while expanding research and investment into Wind, Nuclear (it’s not so scary anymore) and other bio-fuels.  And get this!  The bill encourages working on reducing green house emissions. Yep! You read that correctly. A conservative Republican from Indiana is working to reduce green house emissions!

And what does Andre “Juggernaut” Carson want to do? He signed onto H.R. 6515, the Drill Responsibly in Leased Lands Act of 2008 which, according to a Dan Burton press release, seeks to “impose a “use it or lose it” regulation on drilling companies who have leased Federal lands.” Congressman Burton went on to call the “legislation a “farce” and “the kind of political game-playing that disappoints Americans.” Burton went on to say “When bipartisan solutions are finally reaching the forefront, here’s an example of Pelosi-led fiddling while Rome is burning. You can’t force companies to drill for oil if they haven’t discovered it yet.”

So there you have it. Two plans of action to one plan of inaction. Republicans may not win the U.S. House back this year, but at least they are taking the situation seriously. The Democrats are really acting is if they have nothing to lose. Their inactivity may not cost them this year, but when G-Dub is out, who are Americans going to blame for $5 or $6 gas? Answer seems pretty simple to me.