Lunsford launches energy plan, calling Republican proposals 'propaganda'

Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford, of Louisville.: Politicker photo

Calling rising gas prices an "economic noose" around the American consumer's neck, Democratic Senate nominee Bruce Lunsford released his energy plan this afternoon at a Louisville press conference. The plan contains eight provisions and is a mixture of some new proposals and others the candidate has hit before on the campaign trail. Some of the points of the plan align with recent proposals by Congressional Democrats and some at odds with other high-profile members of his party.

With a eight policy points touted as a "plan for energy independence," Lunsford said he would approach energy needs with both "immediate" and "long-term" solutions.

His immediate solutions include releasing more oil from the strategic petroleum reserve - an emergency oil reserve maintained by the Department of Energy - and "fully" closing the so-called "Enron Loophole," a provision that allows for speculation on energy markets.

Lunsford said previous efforts to close this loophole lacked sufficient enforcement provisions.

One of Lunsford's other short-term solutions is his oft-referenced support of the gas tax holiday, a controversial policy that divided the Democratic presidential primary field and is supported by presumptive Republican presidential nominee and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

When questioned about why his policy differed from so many in his own party who opposed the gas tax holiday, Lunsford responded with a question of his own.

"At this stage of the game, how many of them have done a good job of solving this problem?" asked Lunsford.

When it was noted that presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) had assailed the gas tax holiday as a gimmick, Lunsford said his position was based on the state he sought to represent.

"This is my opinion and the way I feel about it for Kentucky," said Lunsford. "This is not about running for nationwide office, it's about running for the state of Kentucky's Senate seat."

Lunsford also referenced recent data that found Kentuckians paid, on average, a higher percentage of their incomes for gas than in most other states.

Lunsford's plan also includes a push to "increase domestic production." Among his proposals for that effort is support for the earlier efforts of some Congressional Democrats - including Kentucky's 3rd District Rep., John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) - to force oil companies to drill on dormant lands they currently hold under lease. Lunsford also said he supported further use of "Kentucky clean coal" and American oil shale reserves to expand production and provide oil alternatives.

The Democratic nominee has been targeted by his opponent, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville), in the general election campaign for not advocating for expanded drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the outer continental shelf, among other places - a plan Republicans tout as a principal way to drive up oil supply and lower prices.

Today, Lunsford said some domestic oil drilling should continue, but argued that it was not the best solution available.

"Increasing drilling - to keep us addicted to oil - is probably not the long-term right thing to do," said Lunsford. "It's a little bit like getting your son out of jail for drunk driving and then giving him the keys to the liquor cabinet."

Lunsford was also asked if he supported a specific Republican proposal to drill in oil reserves in ANWR and the outer continental shelf.

To the question, asked several times, Lunsford suggested the support of that policy by McConnell and other Republicans was "propaganda."

"This is another classic example of trying to create an issue that is not an issue," said Lunsford.

While he did not specify his stance on the amendment in question, Lunsford said there was "plenty of property" already available for drilling, referring again to the legislation earlier supported by Yarmuth.

Lunsford's plan also noted he seeks to approach the "energy problem" with expanded investment in the research and development of alternative fuels.

McConnell camp's Reply

Shortly after Lunsford announced his plan, the campaign of Sen. McConnell released a statement equating some of Lunsford's proposals to legislation earlier written by McConnell.

"Largely, he has endorsed the bill Senator McConnell wrote a month ago, the Gas Price Reduction Act," said McConnell's campaign manager, Justin Brasell.

Brasell, however, again attacked Lunsford's opposition to drilling in the continental shelf.

"Where they disagree is the notion that it makes sense to put an off-limits sign around 85% of the outer continental shelf. Doing that raises the price of gas and makes us more reliant on Middle East oil," added Brasell.