Conservation group gives Brown perfect score for ‘06

Columbus Dispatch

Democrat Sherrod Brown is the candidate endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters for the U.S. Senate race against GOP Sen. Mike DeWine.

So it’s no surprise that the Avon congressman received a 100 percent rating in the advocacy group’s national environmental congressional scorecard for 2006 that was released this week. But DeWine did pretty well also, registering a score of 71 percent. He tied with two others for the second-best rating among GOP senators. Ohio’s other senator, Republican George V. Voinovich, got a 43 percent rating.

Among the votes praised by the league was DeWine’s opposition to drilling for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and his support for increased funding for a low-income heating assistance and weatherization program.

That doesn’t mean the league is changing its mind about the Brown endorsement.

Brown still garners the enthusiastic backing of the league because his lifetime rating is 93 percent, compared with DeWine’s 32 percent.

League officials noted that DeWine’s 2005 score was 45 percent and said they hope he continues improving, from their perspective, on environmental matters if he defeats Brown on Nov. 7.

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10/13/2006 / Permalink / Environment, (all tags)

Special Interests Reward Mike DeWine

Chamber Ad Distorts Truth; Hides DeWine’s Failed Energy Record

AMHERST – The Chamber of Commerce, the national representative for big industry such as prescription drug, oil, and gas companies, is at it again. Last week it was discovered that a Chamber ad thanking Mike DeWine for the Medicare Part D bill was funded, at least in part, by PhRma, the Washington D.C. lobby arm for the national prescription drug industry.

Mike DeWine received $380,000 in campaign donations from prescription drug companies.

Medicare Part D – strongly opposed by Ohio Congressman Sherrod Brown and seniors throughout Ohio – afforded the drug industry windfall profits while forcing many seniors to pay increased out-of-pocket costs and traverse a complicated labyrinth of private plans.

The latest Chamber ad, that began airing Wednesday morning, thanked Mike DeWine for gas prices and attempted to paint the Ohio incumbent Republican Senator a supporter of family-friendly energy policy.

DeWine has received more than $390,000 in campaign contribution from the oil and gas industry and actively supported the oil industry agenda in the U.S. Senate.

“Mike DeWine and his special interests friends in Washington will say anything, do anything to try and keep his job,” said Brown spokesperson Joanna Kuebler. “Senator DeWine has been a rubber stamp for the Bush administration policies backed by the Chamber its members. They don’t want to lose their cash cow.”

Gas prices soared to record highs this summer while last winter brought staggeringly high home heating bills. In 2005, DeWine voted for the Bush-backed energy bill supported by the oil and gas industry. The legislation – opposed by Brown – included $70 billion in subsidies for the oil industry.

“Mike DeWine is part of the pay-to-play system in Washington that has reaped billions in profits for special interests while betraying middle class families in Ohio,” said Kuebler. “A misleading ad backed by big business won’t distract Ohio families from demanding accountability for high gas and home heating prices.”

Brown, a leading advocate for alternative energy, has voted to increase funding for renewable fuels as well as well as introduced legislation to protect consumers from price gouging by the oil industry.

Editors  -- please see ad watch to follow.

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08/30/2006 / Permalink / Adwatch, Environment, gas, (all tags)

Senate candidates focus on energy

From Columbus Dispatch: 

Standing next to two ambulances yesterday, U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown bemoaned high gas prices and said Congress should pass anti-price-gouging legislation based on exorbitant profits and executive salaries.

The Democrat from Avon said Ohio holds great potential to "become the Silicon Valley of alternative energy."

The man Brown is challenging this November, Republican U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, stood next to a newly built firetruck Monday and talked about doubling federal research and development tax credits.

"Ohioans need to be the sellers of this new form of energy, the alternative form of energy," he said.

But Brown said Ohio hasn’t done enough to capitalize on the move toward alternative energy.

Despite the state’s agricultural resources and skilled labor work force, the state has established few ethanol plants, he said. He recalled a recent visit to Oberlin College in northern Ohio, where one completely solar-powered building was constructed with panels from Germany and Japan.

"No reason Ohio skilled workers can’t be building the solar panels, the fuel cells and the windmills that go into the production of alternative energy," he said.

Click here to read the full article. 

08/18/2006 / Permalink / Environment, gas, (all tags)

Sherrod Brown focuses on energy

From Akron Beacon-Journal: 

Standing along a busy downtown street in the doorway of a flower shop Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, shared his rosy vision of the future for both Akron and Ohio.

He said the state ``has the capacity to become the Silicon Valley of alternative energy.''

``From a hydrogen plant in Akron to a biorefinery in Lima,'' Brown said, ``Ohio can be at the center of our fight to wean the U.S. off of foreign oil.''

Backed by a large red, white, and blue quilted banner announcing his claim to the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Mike DeWine, Brown spoke of the need to address the nation's energy crisis by greatly expanding the use of alternative energy.

Noting that area gas prices are hovering in the $3-per-gallon range, Brown said the average two-car family in Ohio will pay about $1,500 more for gas this year than in ``2001 when President Bush came to office.''

Speaking to about two dozen people gathered in front of the Wildflower florist shop on East Market Street, Brown accused Bush, DeWine and the GOP Congress of passing legislation that not only continues but also increases America's addiction to oil. ``Mike DeWine voted for an energy bill that gave billions to oil companies while Ohio drivers were left to foot the bill,'' said Brown, who is giving up his 13th District seat to make a run at DeWine. ``We must protect consumers from price gouging and eliminate the billion-dollar taxpayer subsidies to big oil companies,'' he said.

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08/16/2006 / Permalink / Economy, Environment, Northeast Ohio, (all tags)

As Dewine Provides Giveaways To Oil Companies, Brown Announces Plan To Lower Energy Prices

"Ohio could be Silicon Valley of alternative energy"
 
AKRON - While Mike DeWine and the GOP Congress continue to pass legislation that increases the nation's addiction to oil, U.S. Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH) met today with small business owners to discuss solutions to the nation's energy crisis.  In July 2005, Mike DeWine voted for a Republican energy bill that provided billions of dollars in giveaways to the oil and gas companies.  That month, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline in Ohio was $2.23.  Today, that price is more than $3.00.
 
"Mike DeWine voted for an energy bill that gave billions to oil companies while Ohio drivers were left to foot the bill," said Brown.  "Small businesses are feeling the burn of rising energy prices as a greater share of their budget is dedicated to fuel and heat.  This year, Mike DeWine again voted to reward his big oil buddies by supporting increased drilling instead of providing Ohio consumers and businesses with the relief they deserve."
 
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08/15/2006 / Permalink / Economy, Environment, gas, (all tags)

National Push for Lower Gas Prices and Energy Independence Kicks off in Cleveland

Ohio Drivers Paying Nearly $1 More a Gallon for Gas than Last Year

The Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland was brimming with activity Saturday afternoon, May 20, as dozens of Clevelanders turned out to to hear Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Sherrod discuss their plan to lower gas prices and move America toward energy independence by 2020.

Ohioans traveled to the event from as far away as Medina and Lake County to hear solutions for skyrocketing gas prices, which have jumped almost a dollar a gallon since one year ago.

Sherrod spoke first about his ideas to lower prices at the pump through a 60-day gas tax holiday, and the creation of a regional gasoline reserve system.

Sen. Reid used the event to kick off a nationwide push by Senate Democrats to make America energy independent by 2020. He also showed his strong support for Sherrod?s campaign by telling the crowd that his happiest day in Washington was the day Sherrod Brown announced his candidacy.

Sherrod and Senator Reid energized the large crowd gathered in front of a new giant wind turbine, which is capable of producing seven percent of the Science Center's electricity.

Also speaking at the news conference were two Northeast Ohio mothers struggling with the burden of soaring gas prices.

Reverend Lois Annich, a Presbyterian minister and counselor, spoke passionately about the social and economic injustice of working families being stuck with high gas prices while oil companies take in record profits. Patients in her counseling practice are feeling the stress as more of their family budget is consumed by fuel costs.

"This is a social injustice of the highest order," she said.

Jennifer Tucker, a working mother of two, explained that gas prices have hit the Tucker family particularly hard. Tucker must travel from Medina County to Cleveland five days a week -- more than 50 miles round trip -- to finish her graduate program in nursing, which she hopes will lead to a good-paying job. Her family now spends up to $500 a month on gas, which she can only pay by adding more debt to her student loans.

Click here to read more about the plan.

05/22/2006 / Permalink / Economy, Environment, gas, (all tags)

Democrats Brown, Reid launch fuel-bill campaign

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown of Avon, the Democratic candidate for the Senate, and Harry Reid, the Senate minority leader, launched a national campaign promoting new energy legislation Saturday.

Using the wind turbine at the Great Lakes Science Center in North Coast Harbor as their backdrop, Brown and Reid said the Clean EDGE Act of 2006 would help break America's dependence on fossil fuels. EDGE stands for Energy Development for a Growing Economy.

The legislation, which Democrats introduced in the Senate Wednesday, calls for the federal government to reduce petroleum consumption by 20 percent in five years and by 40 percent by 2020. It mandates that 25 percent of new vehicles sold in the country by 2010 be capable of using flex-fuels, such as ethanol.

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05/21/2006 / Permalink / Economy, Environment, gas, (all tags)

VIDEO: Sen. Harry Reid and Sherrod Call for Energy Independence

Sherrod and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid today showcased a sweeping new Democratic plan to lower gas prices and move America towards energy independence.

The event was previewd in Saturday's Washington Post:

The kickoff event will take place today in Ohio, when Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) appears with Rep. Sherrod Brown, the Democratic Senate candidate, in front of a giant wind turbine outside a Cleveland science center.

"Wherever you live, your gas prices are out of control, and you want to hold someone accountable for it," Reid said.

Brown is making an issue of the $330,000 in donations that Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) has received from oil and gas companies over the course of his career.

Click here to read the full article.

05/20/2006 / Permalink / Economy, Environment, gas, Video, (all tags)