SUNUNU’S EXCUSE-O-RAMA: THE ENERGY BILL

For Immediate ReleaseContact: Bill Lofy
December 18, 2007(603)573-5067

SUNUNU'S EXCUSE-O-RAMA: THE ENERGY BILL

Every time John Sununu votes with his party and against New Hampshire, he has a ready-made excuse. The New Hampshire Democratic Party has begun tallying the Sununu excuses in a regular update we’re calling: Sununu’s Excuse-O-Rama!

During recent debate on the Energy Bill, John Sununu may have outdone himself. While voting with President Bush and Big Oil and against New Hampshire, Sununu had a couple of beauties.

EXCUSE #1: THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK

Despite having sent a press release the day before, taking credit for parts of the House Energy Bill, John Sununu voted against the same bill when it came to the Senate, using the Congressional equivalent of the-dog-ate-my-homework excuse that he didn’t have time to read it.

From the Associated Press:

“On Friday, Senate Democrats tried to cut off debate on the bill but their motion did not receive the majority required to overcome a threatened Republican filibuster. Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu both voted against ending debate…Gregg and Sununu each said they had not had time to digest the bill and said Democrats tried to push it through without Republican input.” (AP, “Dems decry Senate vote, Gregg and Sununu say it needs debate,” 12/7/07)

EXCUSE #2: MY PRESIDENT MADE ME DO IT

Perhaps Senator Sununu availed himself to the copy of Speed Reading Made Easy that the NHDP sent to his campaign headquarters, but he made time to read the bill the second time around and instead excused his vote by saying he wanted to give the President a bill he could sign. (Hey, John – the President can sign any bill he wants to – why not tell him this is important for New Hampshire and ask for his support next time, instead of folding like a house of cards?)

By voting with President Bush, Sununu ensured the Energy bill protected tax breaks for big oil and was stripped of measures to save money and create jobs for New Hampshire, including:

• Long-term extension and modification of solar energy and fuel cell investment tax credit and the residential energy-efficient property credit.

• New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (³CREBs²). To finance construction of new clean energy generation facilities.

• Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) demonstration projects.

• Various energy efficiency deductions and credits for consumers and businesses.

Here’s the Boston Globe’s take on Sununu’s vote:

Energy: Bad news from New Hampshire

“The energy bill passed by the US Senate last week could have been stronger had it not been for the votes of New Hampshire Senators John Sununu and Judd Gregg. The two voted against extending tax breaks for wind and solar, which would have been paid for by ending $13 billion in tax breaks to the oil and gas industries. Supporters of the stronger energy bill needed 60 votes to shut off debate, but got just 59. So either senator could have been a profile in courage, and the better bill would have passed. Sununu said he voted as he did to avoid a Bush veto and continued standstill on energy reform. According to the watchdog website opensecrets.org, Sununu has received $210,000 in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry, and Gregg $84,000. Apparently neither man has much in common with constituents who want relief from Big Oil's chokehold.” (Boston Globe, 12/18/07)

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