Obama: Did he vote for Louisiana or against it?
A Hillary Clinton email has been going around Louisiana trying to point out that Barack Obama voted against Louisiana getting its fair share. Here is what it says:
SENATOR OBAMA OPPOSED BILLIONS IN OIL REVENUE-SHARING FOR LOUISIANA
Feb. 7, 2008 Contact: C. Brylski (504) 897-6110
The Louisiana for Clinton Campaign issued the following statement today:
The people of Louisiana have understood for many years that the oil and gas
exploration in the Gulf of Mexico has been both a boon and bane to this
State. On one hand, the oil industry has provided Louisiana with economic
security and opportunity and, on the other, it was a contributing cause to
the coastal erosion that exacerbated the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita. At the same time, the people of Louisiana believed that they did
not receive a fair share of the revenues that flowed from drilling in the
Gulf in view of Louisiana’s enormous contribution to domestic oil and
natural gas energy supplies.Following the hurricanes of 2005, the status quo in Louisiana was no longer
tenable and the need for a fairer revenue sharing agreement that would
provide significant funding for coastal restoration/hurricane protection
reached a new height. The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act represented the
practical solution that Louisiana needed. It struck a balance between
opening new areas to drilling and protecting the environment. And most
importantly for Louisiana, the bill gave Louisiana a bigger share of the
oil and gas revenues in the Gulf of Mexico, providing billions of dollars
for coastal restoration, levee building and other critical recovery
projects. That is why this important bill was fully supported by the people
of Louisiana and their elected representatives. And though other energy
issues loomed at the time, the urgency of acting to provide a secure source
of funding for Gulf Coast recovery efforts outweighed any shortcomings of
the legislation.That is why Senator Clinton voted for it.
Senator Obama did not.
With all due respect, Senator Obama’s opposition to
the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act was politically expedient. Senator
Obama said the following in his opposition:Unfortunately, this bill sends the wrong message. Instead of making tough
political decisions about how to reduce our insatiable demand for oil, this
bill continues to lull the American people into thinking that we can drill
our way out of our energy problems. We can’t, and for that reason, I plan to
vote against this bill. 152 Cong. Rec. S8492-02, 8503.This act was not about sending the wrong message or lulling Louisiana into a
false sense of security. Louisiana knows the score, and it has known for a
very long time. The act was about helping Louisiana restore its coastline
and protect itself from future hurricanes while supporting an economic
lifeline for the state. By voting against this vital bill, Senator Obama
chose to score political points about “energy independence” instead of
moving forward with legislation to provide a steady source of funding for
recovery efforts in a post-Katrina/Rita Louisiana. Despite Senator Obama’s
assertion, our nation’s dependence on foreign energy was not something to be
solved by rejecting needed aid to the state of Louisiana.Senator Clinton acknowledged that this was a “tough political decision” in
light of the many energy challenges that the United States faced, and stated
the following in support of the act: “I believe that as part of a balanced
energy policy, we need to expand domestic oil and gas production where it
has local support and can do so in an environmentally sound way. I think the
bill before the Senate meets that test . . . .” 152 Cong. Rec. S8492-02,
8505.Senator Clinton further noted that “[e]xpanding domestic supplies is only a
partial solution to our energy problems,” as the country must “take steps to
increase energy efficiency and to expand production of renewable energy.”
152 Cong. Rec. S8492-02, 8505. In this regard, Senator Clinton filed
amendments to the bill, but did not insist on holding the bill hostage to
those amendments and vote to filibuster the bill, as Senator Obama did.Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the state has become of symbol of the
ills of bureaucratic myopia. Politicians have flocked to New Orleans seeking
headlines that show that they care and that they will not leave Louisiana
behind.Louisiana, look at the record.
Often what happens on C-SPAN is more telling
than what happens on CNN. Issues do matter. When Senator Obama had the
chance to stand with you, he chose not to.
Obama supporters quickly refuted this. So what is the answer? The answer is “yes”.
Barak Obama initially voted against the specific legislation S. 3711; Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006
However, when that legislation was included in H.R. 6111, Barack Obama did vote for the overall bill that included the Gulf of Mexico Energy Act. It is hard to tell from that link, but the Mary Landrieu press release shows the date and vote totals that help prove it.
We should all be used to these kind of politics. I am not saying we should accept it. However, I am dissapointed at both candidates. I am disapointed that the Hillary campaign would not include the whole story. I am also dissapointed at Obama for not supporting Louisiana initially. Unfortunately, the resolution of this story does nothing to solve my problem of who to vote for.
February 8th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Bottom Line:
Like all of you. I know that health care is the most critical, and important issue facing the American people. Now, and in the coming elections. And like the vast majority of the American people, I want HR 676 (Medicare For All) passed into law NOW! “Single payer, Tax Supported, Not For Profit, True Universal Health Care” free for all as a right. Like every other developed country in the world has. See: http://www.house.gov/conyers/news_hr676.htm
“HR 676:
For church goers: less money to insur. companies and more to the church- lots more.
Srs on Medicare: save way over $100/wk. Because no more medigap, long term care & dental insur. needed. No more drug bills.”
But if we the American people fail to bring enough pressure on our current politicians to get HR 676 passed into law before the elections. We will have to identify, and replace all the politicians standing in the way of passage of HR 676. And, I think the best first place to start is with the politicians that blocked the bipartisan SCHIP bills for the kids. Passed by congress four times.
But what about the President. It was Bush after all that blocked the bipartisan SCHIP bill passed by congress to assure more health coverage for Americas kids. So which of the presidential hopefuls do I think will be most supportive of implementing the demand of the majority of the American people to have HR 676 (Medicare For All) passed into law immediately!
We have some very fine presidential candidates who would make good presidents. But none of the top Presidential candidates directly support HR 676, the only true Universal Health Care plan. So I am supporting Hillary Clinton. She is the only top candidate that has ever actually fought for universal health care before.
I have enormous admiration, and respect for Hillary Clinton. She fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds back in 1993. To prevent this disastrous health care crisis that is now devastating the American people, and America. She fought so hard for the American people that she risk almost completely destroying her husbands presidency. I haven’t forgotten her heroic effort. If any Presidential hopeful for universal health care deserves my support, it’s her.
Also, if we the American people fail to bring enough pressure on our government to give us HR 676 which we all so desperately need NOW! Then we will need the most skilled politician we can get on our side to broker the best health care plan for the American people that we can get. Though it will be less than we need, and less than we deserve. The politician I think to best do this is Hillary Clinton. The Clinton’s are probably the most skilled politicians in American history.
The insurance industry, and medical industry that has been ripping you off, and killing you has given Hillary Clinton so much money because they fear her. They have also given Barack Obama so much money because they fear Hillary Clinton. They think they can manipulate Barack Obama against the best interest of the American people better than they can manipulate Hillary Clinton. There is no race issue with Hillary Clinton. The Clinton’s are the poster family for how African Americans want white people to be towards African Americans.
As always, African Americans are suffering, and dieing in this health care crisis at a much higher rate than any other group in America. The last time there was any significant drop in the African American death rate was when Bill Clinton was president.
My fellow Americans, you are dieing needlessly at an astounding rate. In higher numbers than any other people in the developed world. Rich, and poor a like. Insured, and uninsured. Young, and old. Men, women, children, and babies. And we the American people must stop it. And fix it NOW! Keep Fighting!!! Never! give up hope. There are millions of lives at stake. Bless you all… You are doing great!