BTL:Newly Passed Congressional Legislation Promoting Fossil Fuels and...

...Nuclear Power a Gift to Big Energy Companies Interview with Lisa Gue, senior energy analyst with Public Citizen, conducted by Between the Lines' Melinda Tuhus

Newly Passed Congressional Legislation Promoting Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Power a Gift to Big Energy Companies

Interview with Lisa Gue, senior energy analyst with Public Citizen, conducted by Melinda Tuhus

One of the Bush Administration's first acts upon taking office in January 2001 was to convene an energy task force headed by Vice President Dick Cheney. The task force recommendations are still shrouded in secrecy and the subject of litigation to determine what role various energy companies played in its formulation. But one thing is clear: The administration's energy agenda is heavily weighted toward increasing production, especially of fossil fuels and nuclear power.

Last year, bills were passed in both the House and Senate that mirrored the Bush/Cheney energy plan. They promoted an expansion of drilling for oil and gas, and the construction of a new generation of nuclear power plants with little support for renewable, non-polluting energy sources. However, the legislation failed to come out of conference committee before the 2002 elections.

But with the Senate and House now in Republican hands, energy bills similar to those stalled the previous year were recently passed again by Congress before it adjourned for its August recess. The bills will go to a conference committee in September, chaired by Republican Sen. Peter Domenici, to work out the differences and be brought back for a final vote. Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Lisa Gue, senior energy analyst with Public Citizen, who says the legislation, if enacted, will be disastrous for the environment and consumers. She discusses some of the specific items in the two bills and what it will take to stop the legislation from becoming law.

For more information, call Public Citizen at (202) 454-5130 or visit their website at www.citizen.org. To find out how legislators voted and to send a free fax opposing the bills to your representatives visit www.stopenergybill.org.

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org
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