2008 Kentucky Senate Debate between Mitch McConnell & Bruce Lunsford: on Energy & Oil


Bruce Lunsford: Expand drilling; draw strategic reserve; plus alternatives

Republican incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell touched on the debate over domestic oil drilling, which has been a hot-button issue in the campaign for US Senate. “In order to solve this problem, we have to do everything. We have to both find more and use less,” said McConnell, the Senate’s top-ranking Republican. McConnell also mentioned coal-to-liquid fuels, nuclear technology and even electric cars. “We’re not too many years away from the time when we’ll be plugging in our cars and trucks for the night,“ he said.

Bruce Lunsford said his energy plan includes expanded drilling, alternative fuels and drawing from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve to lower gas prices. Lunsford said Republicans are pushing for expanded drilling because it is favored by the oil industry. ”What the Republicans have done led by Mitch McConnell is they have been industry-driven for every solution, because that’s who butters their bread,“ Lunsford said.

Source: 2008 Kentucky Senate debate reported by AP, in Forbes Mag. Sep 6, 2008

Mitch McConnell: Supports coal-to-liquid fuels, nuclear tech, & electric cars

Republican incumbent Sen. Mitch McConnell touched on the debate over domestic oil drilling, which has been a hot-button issue in the campaign for US Senate. “In order to solve this problem, we have to do everything. We have to both find more and use less,” said McConnell, the Senate’s top-ranking Republican. McConnell also mentioned coal-to-liquid fuels, nuclear technology and even electric cars. “We’re not too many years away from the time when we’ll be plugging in our cars and trucks for the night,“ he said.

Bruce Lunsford said his energy plan includes expanded drilling, alternative fuels and drawing from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve to lower gas prices. Lunsford said Republicans are pushing for expanded drilling because it is favored by the oil industry. ”What the Republicans have done led by Mitch McConnell is they have been industry-driven for every solution, because that’s who butters their bread,“ Lunsford said.

Source: 2008 Kentucky Senate debate reported by AP, in Forbes Mag. Sep 6, 2008

Mitch McConnell: Has clout to implement GOP solutions for high gas prices

Throughout the forum, McConnell returned over and over to three themes--energy, clout and what he said was Lunsford’s allegiance to the AFL-CIO. He said the labor organization is diametrically opposed to the interests of the farm bureau.

McConnell said that Republicans have the best solutions for high gas prices and that as Senate minority leader he can get more done than a freshman Democrat. And he said that the labor unions supporting Lunsford would control him in Washington. “I’m not there to do the bidding of organized labor like my opponent,” McConnell said. “If they deliver for him, believe me, he’ll deliver for them.”

Afterward, Lunsford said that he has met with the AFL-CIO and other labor groups and that he has no problem with any of the issues they asked him to support. But he said he isn’t under the union’s thumb. “I don’t think I’ll be a puppet for anyone,” he said.

Source: 2008 Kentucky Senate debate reported in Courier-Journal Aug 21, 2008

Bruce Lunsford: Double oil production by developing 70M federal acres

I support legislation recently proposed by Rep. John Yarmuth. His creative solution to increase domestic oil production will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and hold Big Oil accountable for failing to develop nearly 70 million acres of federal land they’re not using. This could double domestic oil production if tapped. It’s time we hold Big Oil accountable for their actions...or inactions in this case.
Source: 2008 Kentucky Senate Debate on Political Base website Jun 18, 2008

  • The above quotations are from 2008 Kentucky Senate Debate between Mitch McConnell & Bruce Lunsford.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Energy & Oil.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Mitch McConnell on Energy & Oil.
  • Click here for more quotes by Bruce Lunsford on Energy & Oil.
Candidates and political leaders on Energy & Oil:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Dec 01, 2018