5th District Democratic nominee Roy Carter supports the latest efforts in Congress to develop a long term solution to the nation’s energy needs. Last night the House voted 236-189 to allow offshore drilling on the Atlantic coastline, including North Carolina. The bill includes incentives for alternative energy research, an end to tax breaks for oil companies, and authorizes a sale of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. All seven North Carolina Democrats in the House voted for the bill along with two NC Republicans, Walter Jones and Robin Hayes. Carter’s opponent, Virginia Foxx, voted against the bill.
“I applaud efforts to bring down the price of gasoline,” said Carter. “Any real solution to our energy crisis will require a comprehensive approach. My opponent spent the August recess in Washington grandstanding for the press for a drilling-only bill when she could have been back home doing constituent service. Now when given the chance to vote on an ‘all of the above’ energy bill, she does the bidding of the Big Oil lobbyists who help fund her campaign.”
Carter pointed out that time is of the essence. Without a deal by September 30, the oil companies could have drilled within sight of the North Carolina beaches, without state approval, adding environmental risks. Said Carter, “The House bill isn’t perfect but it’s better than doing nothing, which is apparently what my opponent would prefer.”
