Democrats unveil plan to cut dependence on oil imports
Yesterday, Senate Democrats presented a proposal to cut U.S. dependence on oil imports 40 percent by 2020. The Clean EDGE Act contains nary a mention of increased fuel-economy standards, gas taxes, or other such excessively bold proposals; instead, it proclaims that ethanol will save us all. Under Clean EDGE, a quarter of U.S.-sold cars would have to be flex-fuel — able to run on an ethanol blend — by 2010, and half by 2020; alternative fuel would have to be available at 10 percent of gas stations by 2015. The plan would also revoke some oil company subsidies. “[D]rill, drill, drill is not going to deliver the results we need,” said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). Republicans were, of course, unsupportive. “If drivers could fill their tanks with Democratic Party politics, everybody would be running on full,” said Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas). He added, “Drill, drill, drill!” OK, not really.
