Planetsave

Republican Scandal and the RES Robin Hood:

By: Anthony J. Gerst.

My writings have the tendency to rant, rag, B-slap on Congress quite often. There are still good people on the hill, ladies and gentlemen. Of course almost everyone thinks their own representative is a decent, moral person, trying their best to represent the people. I personally believe Senator Harkin, my representative, is all of this and much more. But Michigan, I am envious of you. John Conyers Jr. is a representative of the people. You should be very proud to have him as your elected official in the House of Representatives.

Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-MI) unlike Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), has diligently worked toward impeachment of George W. Bush. Currently he is waiting on the contempt of Congress resolution to come up for a vote on the floor. Before the August recess, the Judiciary Committee passed a resolution that held Harriet Myers and the White House in contempt of Congress.

The contempt charge pertains to the investigation of the firing of nine federal prosecutors, and a tie into the White House playing a key role. To add a little insult to injury, the replacement prosecutors seem to have been hired based upon political contributions and affiliations. Further roadblocks in pursuing this contempt charge have arisen, as officials from the Justice Department and our former Attorney General have apparently given false testimony.

The honorable statesman from Michigan is not afraid to tackle the issues that are crucial to the people of our nation. He has one of the best congressional sites on the net, in my humble opinion. Here is a link should you wish to follow up this, or other crucial issues of the day, like the Jena Six.

Congress will soon be putting the final negotiations on this session’s energy bill. It is crucial that the Renewable Energy Standard (RES), which was passed in the house, be included in this law (H.R.3221). In the House resolution almost all utilities would be required to meet 15% of their service from renewable energy by 2020.

• » Read more on Action & Activism

On September 20, testifying before the House Select Committee on Energy Independence, Executive Director Dave Foster of the Blue Green Alliance had this to say. “A study released in 2006, by the Blue Green Alliance of component manufacturing in the renewable energy industry based on a 10-year effort to introduce 185,000 megawatts of renewables–the rough equivalent of a 20 percent RES–found that 850,000 jobs would be created with $160 billion of investments in manufacturing. This investment would ripple through 43,000 firms and revitalize the 20 states hardest hit by the decline in manufacturing in the last decade.”

Prior to taking this position at Blue Green Alliance, Mr. Foster was a 31-year member of the United Steelworkers Union. For 16 years he was the International Executive Board Director for District 11. Here is a man that understands the needs of working men and women. A man who understands, an eco-friendly economy will not be the demise of our nation, but the revitalization of Middle America.

The Blue Green Alliance is a public-policy partnership, between the Sierra Club and the United Steelworkers Union. Together they are working assiduously to enact positive legislation in Washington. For a detailed report showing state-by-state the economic growth and benefits from RES click here.

A related study conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists showed that the RES now under consideration will create tens of thousands of new jobs, and save Americans’ billions on their energy bills. Contact your congress people, under bushco the energy sector has been making billions every quarter. Isn’t it time we play Robin Hood, and take a little back?

‘That Costume Place’ West Burlington Iowa graciously provided the Robin Hood Costume and George W. Mask used above. The photographer was Brigitte Elliot, one of the individuals posing happens to be the Watchdog 316 Citizen Journalist.

You might also like: