Yet Hill, by lowering gas prices at just one station, has single-handedly done more to help suffering drivers than Sodrel has in 2 years. For the record, Sodrel is fanatic pro-business and scoffs at the notion the oil industry should face regulations over recent price gouging. He maintains this position despite all major oil companies reporting record profit margins in almost every subsequent financial quarter.
Sodrel clearly has more loyalties to his politics than constituents on this issue. Considering the spirit of Lee Hamilton, who set the standard for the 9th District, Sodrel's stance is grossly out of step with southern Indiana voters.
Hill's gas gimmick, despite its dubious nature, effectively sent his campaign's chief message out loud and clear: Congress has done nothing to alleviate the pressure of gas prices on the public. Whether this is a cheap attempt to win back his House seat, or a sincere promise to fight the issue once elected, Hill has found his campaign's clarion call.
So Baron Hill is pumping gas to make a point about energy costs? How about we look at both Baron Hill's and Mike Sodrel's records on energy. Reader, you decide who is trying to alleviate our country’s energy problems.
Baron Hill's Record on Energy
- Hill voted against an ethanol mandate and legislation that promoted the use of renewable sources of energy including solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectricity. H.R. 4503, Roll Call 241, 6/15/04.
- Hill voted against the bi-partisan Energy Policy Act of 2004, even though 46 Democrats supported the bill that would have put into practice a comprehensive national policy for energy conservation, research and development. H.R. 4503, Roll Call 241, 6/15/04.
- Held captive by far-left environmental groups, Hill has consistently opposed exploring for domestic sources of energy. H.R. 4, Roll Call 320, 8/2/01; H.AMDT.298, roll call 317, 8/1/01; H.R. 6, roll call 145, 4/11/03; H.AMDT.69, Roll Call 135, 4/10/03.
Mike Sodrel's Record on Energy
- The Energy Policy Act of 2005, H.R. 6: Mike Sodrel voted for a comprehensive energy bill to decrease foreign energy imports and promote domestic sources. This bill was the first major energy plan passed by Congress in over 14 years and takes a balance approach of conservation, efficiency, production and the promotion of renewable and alternative energy.
- Increasing Domestic Production, H.R. 4318: Mike Sodrel is a cosponsor of H.R. 4318 to allow for oil and gas exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf. A compromise-version of this bill passed the House on June 29, 2006, that protects sensitive areas along the United States coast but still allow for exploration in U.S. waters. One of the reasons foreign energy imports have increased is domestic production has declined due to ban on oil and gas exploration off the U.S. coast.
- Encouraging Renewable Fuels Infrastructure: There are an estimated 8 million flex-fuel vehicles on the road today and about 125,000 in Indiana alone. These flex-fuel vehicles can run on regular unleaded gasoline or renewable fuels such as E-85 -- 85 percent ethanol, with no modifications to the vehicle engine. Rep. Sodrel supported legislation to use funds collected from violations of the corporate average fuel economy or CAFE standards to provide grants for installation of E-85 pumps to help consumers have more options at the pump. HR 5534 7/24/2006 RC 396.
