Friday, July 29, 2005

CBC & the Energy Policy Act of 2005

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 was supported by 43% of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Senator Barack Obama. The CBC voted 17 Yeas to 22 Nays, while the entire House of Representatives approved the bill on a vote of 275 Yeas to 156 Nays. The Senate voted 74 to 26 in approving the bill. AAEA has been working to get an energy passed for the past four years. (CBC Chair Melvin Watt, left, Senator Obama, right)

Thursday, July 28, 2005

CBC Says USA Should Import More Oil From Africa


The Congressional Black Caucus released a report, "Breaking the Oil Syndrome: Responsible Hydrocarbon Development in West Africa," which calls for importing more oil from West African countries as a solution to USA oil woes: recent fluctuations in oil prices, sociopolitical unrest in the Middle East, the war on terror, homeland security and continued dependence on foreign oil. Black Americans should gain more ownership in this energy sector -- then the African oil wouldn't be so foreign. And how much are average Africans in Nigeria, Algeria, Angola and Libya benefitting from oil profits? What about African Americans?

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Arctic National Wildlife Reserve

Do you care about drilling for oil in ANWR one way or the other? You probably just want low gasoline prices and the Caribou be damned. Well ANWR did not make it in the energy bill but it is in the 2006 budget reconciliation bill that will be considered this Fall. If the budget bill is passed with the ANWR provision, there will be drilling. Remember that the ANWR provision was put in the budget resolution to avoid a filibuster in the Senate via regular Senate deliberations (Senate rules do not allow filibusters in the budget resolution process). Speak up.

Saturday, July 23, 2005

You, Me & MTBE

Do you support or oppose the plan to resolve the methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) problem by creating an $11.4 billion 12 year fund to clean up drinking water contaminated by the gasoline additive? The industry cost would be about $4 billion; the federal government would pay more than $4 billion and the cost to states would be nearly $3 billion. More on the plan by House members Joe Barton (R-TX) & Charles Bass (R-NH).

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Hollywood or Capitol Hill?

Does Hollywood or Washington, DC have more influence over public opinion, particularly energy policies, in America? Does George Bush have more influence on environmental policy than Tom Cruise (without his recent behavior)? Cruise actually spoke on the Capitol steps at the 1990 Earth Day. Does Julia Roberts have more influence than First Lady Laura Bush? Julia did 'Erin Brockovitch.' Laura fights poverty in America and Africa. Who influences you?

The entertainment industry and the federal government are two of the most powerful entities in the United States. Which one has more influence over your opinions?

And check out AAEA's new L.A. Office