ALG: 'No deal is better than a bad deal' on payroll tax holiday, unemployment benefits extensions

Feb. 16, 2012, Fairfax, VA—Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson today issued the following statement responding to a deal to extend the payroll tax holiday, unemployment benefits, and the "doc fix" for another year without paying for it:

"This is a severe disappointment. This is a deal that will hasten the bankruptcy of Social Security, add over $100 billion to the debt, and dispirit the base of voters who swept Republicans into a majority in the House in 2010. When critics claim there is little difference between the two parties, this is what they're talking about. This is a win for none other than the political class in Washington, D.C. The American people once again lack representation. Who's looking out for the interests of the taxpayer?

"Now it is up to individual members of the House and Senate to oppose and hopefully defeat this bill despite the position of party leadership. No deal is better than a bad deal."

###

Americans for Limited Government is a non-partisan, nationwide network committed to advancing free market reforms, private property rights and core American liberties. For more information on ALG please call us at 703-383-0880 or visit our website at www.GetLiberty.org.

US Rep Bass Statement on Passage of PIONEERS Act

WASHINGTON – Congressman Charles F. Bass (NH-02) issued the following statement this evening after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3408, the Protecting Investment in Oil Shale, the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security (PIONEERS) Act.  The legislation would partially fund the transportation reauthorization bill by opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and other areas to exploration and drilling.

Bass said:

“While I support finding solutions to increase our domestic energy supply and achieve energy security in our nation, opening protected, unique, and pristine environmental areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the wrong way to do it.  I support domestic energy production as well as the development of alternative sources of energy, but it should be done in a safe, environmentally-responsible manner.  As I’ve said before, opening ANWR to drilling as a means to pay for the transportation bill is neither reasonable nor realistic.”

Last week, Bass spearheaded a letter, signed by five of his Republican colleagues, to House Leadership urging them to remove the ANWR funding provisions from the transportation reauthorization bill.

http://bass.house.gov

US Rep Bass Introduces Legislation to Spur Innovations in Energy Efficiency

Bill will save taxpayer money by upgrading federal buildings to reduce energy costs in long term

WASHINGTON – Congressman Charles F. Bass (NH-02) today introduced bipartisan legislation to save taxpayer money in the long term and spur innovations in energy efficiency technology by targeting the federal government’s energy usage and by providing more opportunities for private industry to utilize energy efficient technologies and systems.  Bass’ legislation, the Smart Energy Act (H.R. 4017), has five original cosponsors: Reps. Jim Matheson (UT-02), Peter Welch (VT-AL), John Barrow (GA-12), Robert Dold (IL-10) and Michael Fitzpatrick (PA-08).

Bass said:

“The federal government spends $7 billion annually to heat, cool, and operate its 445,000 buildings.  Given our nation’s fiscal constraints, a common-sense place to save taxpayer dollars is by improving the energy efficiency of the hundreds of thousands of federal buildings across the country.  Through the use of new technologies and innovative funding mechanisms to help make the improvements, these upgrades can begin today at a price taxpayers and our nation can afford, while also helping to spur even more advancements in energy efficiency technologies for buildings, vehicles, and other electronic devices and appliances outside of our government.

“Our goal of energy independence and security will require a multi-faceted approach and many great ideas to become a reality.  Improving energy efficiency by using the federal government as a ‘first adopter’ is a good first step in expanding the nature of the energy debate in this nation so we are focusing not only on ways to increase our domestic energy supply, but also decrease domestic demand.” 

Specifically, the Smart Energy Act would:

• ·         Require federal agencies to utilize a variety of methods to save energy across the entire government.  Provisions include increased use of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) by federal agencies, which spur technological investments by contracting with private entities to upgrade a building’s energy efficiency.  ESPCs use the cost savings generated from reducing energy usage to fund the efficiency improvements instead of the standard appropriations process.  In addition, the legislation will expand the usage of demand response programs, require computer power savings techniques, continue the work to consolidate federal data centers, and provide an efficient method to collect data and track progress. 

• ·         Establish a strategic plan to double the production of electricity production by 2020 through the use of combined heat and power and waste heat recovery.  Maximizing energy already created for both its thermal and electric generation capabilities is a core definition of efficiency.

• ·         Expand existing funding mechanisms to ensure advanced energy efficiency systems and technologies are on a level playing field with other programs aimed at reducing our dependency on foreign sources of energy.

The Smart Energy Act has already garnered broad support among trade associations and businesses, including the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, the Alliance to Save Energy, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Danfoss Group, the Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition, Dow Chemical, the Edison Electric Institute, EnerNOC, Ingersoll Rand, Johnson Controls, the National Electric Contractors Association of Greater Boston, Pew Charitable Trusts, Schneider Electric, United Technologies, and the U.S. Clean Heat and Power Association, among others.

“Introduction of the Bass-Matheson bill moves our nation significantly closer to enactment of important energy efficiency legislation this year,” commented Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan. “With similar legislation, in the form of the bipartisan Shaheen-Portman bill (S. 1000) ready to go to the Senate floor, we could have the basis very soon for a fruitful conversation about increasing our nation’s energy efficiency.  The Alliance applauds Congressmen Bass and Matheson for showcasing that energy efficiency policy is a non-partisan issue that will help to alleviate the economic, environmental and security problems associated with our country’s current, wasteful energy use.”

David Gardiner, Executive Director of the Alliance for Industrial Efficiency, said, “The Alliance for Industrial Efficiency applauds Reps. Bass and Matheson for recognizing that combined heat and power and waste heat recovery could create one million new jobs in the design, installation, construction and maintenance of equipment, and help employment in the construction industry, where unemployment is more than twice the national average.  To make American manufacturing more competitive, save energy and money, and create jobs, Congress should adopt the Bass-Matheson measure to double use of CHP and WHR.”

“By setting the ambitious goal of doubling industrial energy efficiency for our nation, Congressmen Bass (R-NH) and Matheson (D-UT) are taking a critical first step in creating one million jobs, making our manufacturers and industry more competitive in the global economy, and saving energy,” said Phyllis Cuttino, director of the Pew Clean Energy Program. “Combined heat and power and waste heat recovery technologies already provide more than 85 gigawatts of energy—almost nine percent of the nation’s total electricity capacity.  But, much more can be done.  Capturing wasted heat from industrial processes and turning it into power can save money and furnish reliable electricity to industry, hospitals, universities, military bases, and others.” 

Chris Hankin, Senior Director, Information Technology Industry Council, and Executive Director, Digital Energy Solutions Campaign, said, “ITI and DESC applaud the leadership of Mr. Bass and Mr. Matheson in introducing the Smart Energy Act.  We are particularly encouraged to see ‘smart government’ provisions that leverage cost-savings and efficiency from innovation and advancements in information and communications technology.  Data center consolidation and improved energy efficiency in IT equipment will save the federal government, and ultimately the American taxpayer, billions of dollars over the next decade.  We are encouraged by the introduction of this common-sense bill, and hope to see movement on it in the near future.”  

The text of the Smart Energy Act can be found here. 

-- 30 --

http://bass.house.gov

NHforMarriage.com - Hundreds Rally for Marriage

Dear Friend,

The fight to restore traditional marriage in New Hampshire continued this week, with over 300 Granite Staters rallying in Concord on Tuesday demanding that politicians stand with the people, not with liberal social activists, and to support HB 437, legislation that restores traditional marriage, while providing for civil unions, in Hampshire.

Supporters at the rally heard from elected officials, and from strong supporters of traditional marriage, including House Speaker Bill O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon), Baptist pastor Robert Emrich, who led a successful fight in Maine to get voters to reject its gay marriage law, and Rep. David Bates (R-Windham), sponsor of HB 437.

To boisterous cheers, Rep. Bates proudly stated, "We're here to stand up for New Hampshire families who understand what marriage is - between a man and a woman.”

To hear David Bates talk about HB 437, click here.

House Speaker O’Brien said, “There are those who say it takes a village to raise a child — it doesn’t. It takes a mother and a father…this is the right debate, this is the right time, the time to return to the idea of traditional marriage.”

New Hampshire is standing up to national gay activists who forced the flawed 2009 gay marriage law on Granite Staters as part of their agenda to make gay marriage the law of the land in every state in America. 

To make sure our legislators get the message, click the link below to send your local elected official an email, or call today! http://www.nationformarriage.org/c.omL2KeN0LzH/b.7922059/k.9D17/NH_for_Marriage/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx

With your continued support, we can tell the politicians in Concord to stand up for traditional marriage by voting YES on HB 437!

Sincerely,

Jason Rose

PS: Remember to tell your friends and neighbors to contact their local legislator to urge their support for traditional marriage in New Hampshire.

Forward this email and tell them now is the time to act!

Rep. Bates: State House Rally and Press Conference on Restoring Traditional Marriage

Sponsor to Hold Press Conference, Rally on Restoring Traditional Marriage

CONCORD – Representative David Bates Tuesday will hold a press conference and rally for House Bill 437, which would restore traditional marriage in New Hampshire. Rep. Bates is the prime sponsor of the bill.

WHERE: State House Plaza, in front of the State House steps, Concord

WHEN: Tuesday, February 7 at 12:00pm