Kerry's Rhetoric on Gas Prices Offers Dangerous Solutions, Says the National Center for Policy Analysis 3/30/2004
From: Sean Tuffnell of the National Center for Policy Analysis, 800-859-1154 or stuffnell@ncpa.org WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Senator John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, today used the specter of rising prices at the gas pump to attack President Bush for America's dependence on foreign oil and calling on him to, among other things, stop filling the strategic petroleum reserve. Experts with the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) said "Kerry's rhetoric would be laughable if the consequences of its implementation weren't so serious." "Senator Kerry needs a reality check," said NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett. "The strategic petroleum reserve is supposed to be set aside for use in case of war or other national emergency, not to stave off temporary gas hikes. I guess he forgot about the war on terror." Senator Kerry also suggested the U.S. could eliminate its dependence on foreign oil in 10 years by investing in new renewable technologies and increasing automobile CAFE standards. "Every credible study shows that proposed technologies and the necessary infrastructure to replace the internal combustion engine are decades away at best," said Burnett. "Increasing CAFE standards simply makes it cheaper to drive, thus it will not reduce our reliance on OPEC. It would instead result in thousands of otherwise avoidable deaths and tens of thousands of needless injuries." Burnett also noted Kerry's criticism of American dependence on foreign oil was curious, as he has repeatedly opposed efforts to increase domestic production. "We will only become more dependent upon foreign supplies of oil in the future under the Kerry plan," concluded Burnett. For more information or to speak with Dr. Burnett, contact the NCPA's E-Team at 800-859-1154. ------ The NCPA is an internationally known nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute with offices in Dallas and Washington, D. C. that advocates private solutions to public policy problems. We depend on the contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations that share our mission. The NCPA accepts no government grants. |