Ohioans Fight Back Against High Prices at the Pump

Beginning August 29th, Sherrod crisscrossed the state talking about the importance of turning Ohio into the Silicon Valley of alternative energy.  Throughout the campaign, he has now met with small business owners affected by rising energy costs and entrepreneurs investing in alternative energy in Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Youngstown.

At Tuesday's event, Sherrod met with Len Bleh, the owner of Avril and Bleh Meat Market, whose suppliers are charging a fuel surcharge that is hurting Len's business.  Restaurants, caterers, and food suppliers are some of the businesses hardest hit by rising energy prices.  Steve Melink, CEO of Melink Corporation, spoke about his efforts to help local businesses hold their energy costs down by producing energy efficient technology. Instead of providing incentives for entrepreneurs to invest in efficient technology, Mike DeWine voted for an energy bill that gave billions of dollars to oil and gas companies that took the money and then raised energy prices.

Howard Wilkinson wrote about the event in the Enquirer and got Sherrod's response to Mike DeWine's latest attempt to distort the facts and smear Sherrod.

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09/04/2006 / Permalink / gas, (all tags)

DeWine, Brown make local stops as campaign for Senate keeps busy pace

From Dayton Daily News: 

The U.S. Senate campaign came to Dayton on Wednesday, with incumbent Republican Mike DeWine and Democrat Sherrod Brown both visiting the area.

With recent polls giving Brown, a U.S. representative from Avon, a five- to eight-point lead, both candidates said they understand the importance of the next two months.

"It's a close race. We've known all along that it was going to be a close race," said DeWine, who began his day in Cleveland before heading south to the Montgomery County GOP's Annual Family Dinner at Polen Farm in Kettering. "But I love to campaign. This is very much a grass roots effort."

Brown spent most of the morning focusing on alternative energy with small-business owners and other entrepreneurs at the 2nd Street Market in Dayton.

"We want to make Ohio the Silicon Valley of alternative energy," Brown said. "We all know what high gas prices are doing to our businesses and other individuals."

One of those people is Rahn Keucher of Rahn's Artisan Breads, a local baker who serves more than 40 independent restaurants in the Dayton region.

Keucher said he hopes for "a peaceful regime change" that contributes to a drop in fuel prices for his business, which has taken a $5,000 hit on gas costs in the past year.

"It affects my bottom line," Keucher said. "And it affects whether I can attempt an expansion or hire new employees. I've been holding the line for awhile, hoping things would abate."

The increase will eventually force Keucher into charging for his deliveries, just as his vendors have done in recent months, he said.

Brown supports investment in alternative energy and renewable fuels, and research for new energy sources such as hydrogen, wind, solar, and biomass, his campaign said.

Click here to read full article. 

08/31/2006 / Permalink / 2006, Economy, gas, (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)

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)

Brown Calls for Pipeline Inspections as DeWine Fails to Hold Oil Industry Accountable

Brown calls for inspection of pipelines to prevent rise in prices at OH pumps
 
AMHERST, OH -- Ohio consumers, already feeling the burn of high energy prices as oil companies make $1,300 in profits a second, were dealt another blow at the pump this week as British Petroleum announced it reduced oil production at the nation's largest oil field by 50 percent. Oil companies have contributed at least $330,000 to DeWine's campaign.  DeWine supported legislation written by the oil companies that gives them billion dollar subsidies but has led to higher gas prices.
 
Ohio drivers are already paying $3 a gallon, and oil prices are expected to rise even further as oil companies make record profits this year.    "Since Mike DeWine voted to provide billion dollar subsidies to the oil and gas industry, energy prices have skyrocketed while our pipeline infrastructure degraded and our refinery capacity eroded," said Representative Sherrod Brown.  "Ohio families should not be forced to pay one more dime at the pump to reward oil companies that have allowed their critical infrastructure to deteriorate."
 
The Bush administration and Congressional Republicans have failed to require the oil and gas companies to inspect their pipeline infrastructure.  BP admitted Monday that it had not used a so-called "smart pig", a device that travels through the inside of the pipe to measure thickness and detect corrosion for inspections since 1992. The Bush administration only ordered BP to use the smart pig to inspect its pipelines after a oil spill occurred at one of its pipelines in March. The tests revealed losses of more than 70 percent in the wall of the pipe.
 
"The Department of Transportation must immediately implement a nationwide inspection of all oil and gas pipelines," said Brown.  "Ohio drivers are today paying higher gas prices because Republicans like George Bush and Mike DeWine drove the oil industry's agenda through Congress, but when it came to holding oil companies accountable, they were asleep at the wheel."
 
Supply shocks other than the shutdown at Prudhoe Bay are driving up the price of oil.  Disruptions in Iraq, Nigeria, and Venezuela, and reduced output in the Gulf of Mexico could lead to even higher gasoline prices in the U.S. if no action is taken

08/09/2006 / Permalink / gas, (all tags)

DeWine Votes for More Big Oil Giveaways Instead of Providing Ohio Families Relief at the Pump

AMHERST, OH -- As gasoline prices hit record highs at pumps across Ohio, Senator Mike DeWine voted Tuesday for a bill that would provide additional giveaways to the oil and gas industry.
 
U.S. Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said:  “Mike DeWine chose to boost the record profits of oil and gas companies instead of reducing pain at the pump for Ohio drivers.  Drilling for America’s few remaining fossil fuel reserves will only increase America’s addiction to oil.  Instead of helping the United States achieve energy independence by investing in renewable fuels like ethanol, Mike DeWine voted to increase our energy insecurity.”
 
Last year, DeWine voted for an energy bill that provided billions of dollars in subsidies to the oil and gas companies.  DeWine has accepted $330,000 in contributions from the oil and gas industry.  The average price of a regular gallon of gasoline in Ohio was $2.23 in July 2005 when the Energy Policy Act passed.  Today it is $3.00.  Exxon Mobil reported that it reaped the second highest quarterly profits of any U.S. corporation ever for quarter two of 2006.
 
“Since Mike DeWine voted for last year’s energy bill the oil and gas companies have made $1,300 in profits every second,” stated Brown.  “Gas prices have skyrocketed and Exxon Mobil CEO Lee Raymond was rewarded with a $400 million golden parachute.  Mike DeWine continues to vote for legislation written by and for his big oil contributors.”
 
DeWine has consistently voted to keep oil company profits and energy prices up.  In June 2005, he opposed efforts to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help relieve gasoline prices [Vote #147, 6/22/05].  He opposed cutting the gasoline tax at least three times [Vote 26, 3/11/98, Energy and Environment Daily, 4/3/00, DeWine Media Stakeout, 6/22/00].  As Chairman on the Senate Committee that oversees mergers in the energy industry, DeWine has held only one hearing on high gasoline prices.
 
 
Brown has fought to hold oil and gas companies that gouge prices accountable, and to make Ohio the Silicon Valley of alternative energy.

08/02/2006 / Permalink / Economy, gas, (all tags)

DeWine Voted to Boost Oil Company Profits Instead of Lowering Gas Prices

After accepting $330,000 from energy industry, DeWine voted to support big oil's agenda

This week, the Senate will consider legislation that would expand oil and gas drilling off America's coasts. Even though President Bush declared that America was "addicted to oil" in his State of the Union speech, Bush and Senator Mike DeWine have promoted increased oil production and consumption.
 
Senator DeWine has voted to keep oil consumption at record highs and to increase the profit margins flowing into the coffers of the oil executives.  He voted against developing measures to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil by 2025.  He supported increased drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico, and voted to expand offshore drilling on America's coastlines.  Senator DeWine has accepted more than $330,000 in contributions from oil and gas companies and helped push their legislative agenda through Congress.
 
"Senator DeWine has fed America's addiction to oil.  He failed to reduce the pain consumers are facing at the pump.  Instead, he voted to give billions of taxpayer dollars to the same oil and gas companies that reported record profits last year," said Congressman Sherrod Brown.  "As commuters struggled to fill their tanks last summer, Mike DeWine voted for legislation that made the energy crisis facing America worse."
 
DeWine voted in favor of the Energy Policy Act, which provided billions of dollars in subsidies and giveaways to the energy industry.  The average price of a regular gallon of gasoline in Ohio was $2.23 in July 2005 when the Energy Policy Act passed.  Today it is $2.97.
 
High oil and gas prices are causing a ripple effect throughout Ohio's economy. High oil prices have increased the cost of asphalt and construction, slowing road repair.  Fuel-dependent businesses like the transportation and the restaurant industry are raising their prices.  With a higher cost of living across the board, middle class families are struggling to pay higher energy bills coupled with the increased costs of health care and education.
 
"Ohioans are feeling the burn of President Bush and Senator DeWine's ‘just drill it' energy policy.  Our oil imports and our consumption are at record highs, but Senator DeWine has voted to extract some of our last oil reserves.  Instead of working to create jobs and reduce prices through investment in biofuel production in Ohio, Mike DeWine has let the energy industry CEOs dictate his policy." 
 
As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Brown is a leading advocate of making Ohio the Silicon Valley of the Midwest.  Brown supported amendments to the Energy Policy Act that would establish a national ethanol mandate.  He wrote to Ford Chairman Bill Ford and Energy Secretary Bodman to encourage the development of fuel-flexible vehicles which can run on E85 and encouraged investment in biodiesel and fuel cell production in Ohio.

07/25/2006 / Permalink / gas, (all tags)