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Scott Brown on Energy & Oil
Republican Jr Senator
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Keystone XL should be included in energy efficiency bill
A new ad by the Senate Majority PAC is hitting Scott Brown for reportedly lobbying to kill his opponent Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's energy efficiency bill in the Senate: "A rare moment in Congress. A bipartisan bill readies for passage in the Senate. Jeanne
Shaheen's energy efficiency bill to create jobs and save billions, supported by businesses across New Hampshire," states the ad. "But news accounts report that Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown lobbied Republican leaders to kill the bill--hurting
Shaheen and helping himself gain another Senate seat," the ad says.Brown's campaign defended the candidate's visit to Capitol Hill days before the Senate voted on the energy efficiency bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had offered
Republicans a stand-alone vote on the Keystone XL pipeline if the energy efficiency bill passed, but Brown expressed concerns that Keystone wasn't going to be included as an amendment.
Source: The Hill e-zine PacWatch on 2014 New Hampshire Senate race
, May 22, 2014
Ease up on big oil companies to avoid high price of gasoline
Warren pointed to a series of Brown votes in the Senate that she said show he sided with big oil companies and held tax cuts for the middle class hostage to give tax cuts to millionaires. "Sen. Brown is out there protecting every loophole," she said.
Brown responded that Warren supports higher taxes, and also said putting more financial pressure on oil companies could raise prices at the pump. "I am on the taxpayer's side," he said, noting that it's now costing him $70 to fill up his pick-up truck.
Source: North Adams Transcript on 2012 Mass. Senate debate
, Sep 21, 2012
I'm no friend of big oil; I'm a friend of the motorist
Warren sought to depict Brown as a friend of billionaires and big oil companies, asking "whose side do you stand on?" Responding to Warren's criticism of him for a vote she described as cutting oil subsidies, Brown noted that gas prices are
$4 a gallon, and said, "I'm no friend of big oil. I'm a friend of the motorist." Warren retorted that what she called the "big five" oil companies made $137 billion in profits last year.
Source: FutureOfCapitalism.com on 2012 Mass. Senate Debate
, Sep 21, 2012
Energy efficiency yes; energy tax no
Above all, Senator Brown is a supporter of energy efficiency efforts which can help us reduce costs and our environmental impact.
Senator Brown does not support an energy tax, especially during these difficult economic times.
Source: AmericansElect email questionnaire with Scott Brown's staff
, Nov 22, 2011
"All of the above" approach to energy independence
On the AmericansElect.org energy question, Sen. Brown chose 'D' from the list below:- When you think about America's energy needs, which of the following solutions comes closest to your opinion?
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A. Strong investment in renewable energy like wind and solar
- B. More drilling than investment in renewables (mix of both solutions)
- C. More investment in renewable than drilling (mix of both solutions)
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D. Strong focus on offshore drilling and allowing drilling in federal lands including wildlife reserves
Staff comment: Senator Brown supports an "all of the above" approach to energy independence.
He supports renewable energy, solar, wind, and nuclear energy, as well as increasing domestic energy production to reduce our dependence on unstable foreign countries for our energy needs.
Source: AmericansElect email questionnaire with Scott Brown's staff
, Nov 22, 2011
Cap-and-trade is a national energy tax
At their last debate, Scott Brown blasted his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Martha Coakley, for supporting cap-and-trade: "You're in favor of cap and trade, which is a national energy tax," Brown said to Coakley."It's not a tax,"
Coakley replied.
"It's a tax," Brown insisted.
Senate Democrats support cap and trade. I asked Brown about his opposition to it last month, at a campaign stop in Medfield. "If we don't use cap and trade, how do we reduce emissions?"
I wondered.
"You can reduce by conservation, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear," Brown told me. "You can provide a total package and let people have different avenues and different ways to heat and light their businesses.
How does government enforce that? They have their hands in pretty much everything. I'm sure there'll be a role for government--and at some point, government needs to get out of the way, as well."
Source: WBUR article on 2010 MA Senate debate
, Jan 18, 2010
Opposes cap-and-trade system, but renewables OK
Does not believe climate change is entirely man-made.
Opposes a cap-and-trade program, feeling it would create higher costs for families and businesses, but backs what he calls "reasonable and appropriate" development of wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal energy.
Source: Nancy Reardon, Quincy Patriot-Ledger: 2010 MA Senate debate
, Jan 14, 2010
Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology
Rep. Brown indicated he supports the following principles regarding the environment and energy. Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology. Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated,
unused or abandoned. Q: Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
A: Yes.Q: Should state environmental regulations be stricter than federal law?
A: No.
Source: 2002 MA Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test
, Nov 1, 2002
Voted YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases.
Congressional Summary:To prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating any regulation concerning the emission of a greenhouse gas to address climate change. The Clean Air Act is amended by adding a section entitled, "No Regulation of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases". In this section, the term 'greenhouse gas' means any of the following:- Water vapor
- Carbon dioxide
- Methane
- Nitrous oxide
- Sulfur hexafluoride
- Hydrofluorocarbons
- Perfluorocarbons
- Any other substance subject to, or proposed to be subject to regulation to address climate change.
The definition of the term 'air pollutant' does not include a greenhouse gas, except for purposes of addressing concerns other than climate change.Proponent's Argument for voting Yes:
[Sen. McConnell, R-KY]: The White House is trying to impose a backdoor national energy tax through the EPA. It is a strange way to respond to rising gas prices.
But it is perfectly consistent with the current Energy Secretary's previously stated desire to get gas prices in the US up to where they are in Europe.
Opponent's Argument for voting No:
[Sen. Lautenberg, D-NJ]:We hear the message that has been going around: Let's get rid of the EPA's ability to regulate. Who are they to tell us what businesses can do? Thank goodness that in this democratic society in which we live, there are rules and regulations to keep us as a civilized nation. The Supreme Court and scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency agreed that the Clean Air Act is a tool we must use to stop dangerous pollution. This amendment, it is very clear, favors one group--the business community. The Republican tea party politicians say: "Just ignore the Supreme Court. Ignore the scientists. We know better." They want to reward the polluters by crippling EPA's ability to enforce the Clean Air Act.
Status: Failed 50-50 (3/5
Reference: Energy Tax Prevention Act;
Bill Am183 to S.49
; vote number 11-SV054
on Apr 6, 2011
Page last updated: Sep 05, 2017