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Hartsuch says Dems want gas prices to remain high
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| Contributor | ev |
| Last Edited | ev Jul 25, 2008 01:12am |
| Category | News |
| News Date | Jul 25, 2008 01:00am |
| Description | Hartsuch says Dems want gas prices to remain high
By Ed Tibbetts | Thursday, July 24, 2008 9:42 PM CDT | (
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Republican congressional candidate David Hartsuch said Thursday that Democrats are purposely driving up the cost of gasoline to achieve their environmental goals.
Hartsuch, a state senator from Bettendorf, is challenging U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, in the Nov. 4 election. He criticized Braley for opposing Republican-sponsored bills to expand drilling in parts of Alaska and the United States.
“I think many liberals believe prices aren’t high enough,” said Hartsuch, who intends to make energy issues the centerpiece of his campaign.
Asked if he included Braley in that group, he said that he does.
Hartsuch called the news conference to complain about a provision in a bill sponsored by Democrats last week that would push oil companies to drill in less environmentally controversial parts of Alaska. A provision of the bill, Hartsuch said, would hurt minority contractors because it seeks to steer work on oil pipelines to unions.
He said that in his work in the state Senate he had talked with minority contractors who objected to such provisions, called project labor agreements.
“I think this is one of those union paybacks,” he said.
Hartsuch also charged that Democrats want to push gas prices higher to depress energy use because of their worries over global warming.
“I believe that is their goal,” he said.
The senator played down human contributions to climate change. “In some small portion, it may exist,” he said, but added it is not the “main force.”
High gasoline prices have been a point of contention between the parties for weeks now. When Hartsuch announced his campaign two weeks ago, he said he would focus heavily on energy.
Republicans have argued for allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an area that has been off limits for years.
Nicole Buseman, a Braley spok |
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