GOP Address: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson Challenges Obama Energy Policy - East Idaho News
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GOP Address: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson Challenges Obama Energy Policy

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022412 KayBaileyHutchison?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1330136530177United States Congress(WASHINGTON) — This week, Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson delivers the Republican address, and she wants the president to send a message — a call to action — to Democratic leadership in the Senate.

For months, Bailey Hutchinson says, Senate Democrats have “bottled up” bills she claims have been “endorsed in concept” by President Obama that would make expansion and hiring easier for U.S. companies.

Sen. Bailey Hutchinson says the way to take employment “from a monthly trickle of jobs to a tidal wave of growth” is by removing obstacles faced by small businesses.  There are four bills waiting for the consideration of Senate Democrats that would do just that, according to Bailey Hutchinson.

The senator also took issue with the soaring price of fuel seen by Americans — a problem that Bailey Hutchinson says is only getting worse.

“Last February, the average cost of a gallon of unleaded was $3.17 per gallon — the highest February price ever.  But this February’s average is $3.57 per gallon — and all forecasts are for prices to rocket above $4.00 per gallon during the summer driving season.  Families and businesses will be devasted,” Bailey Hutchinson says.

“We can’t slow down global demand for oil and gas, but we can do a lot more here at home to assure that we have the energy we need to halt skyrocketing costs,” she says before condemning President Obama’s energy policies.  

Bailey Hutchinson says that under President Obama, “Offshore drilling permits are being issued at less than half the rate of the previous administration,” which she says will lead to rising fuel prices and less oil industry jobs for Americans.

At the open of the address, Bailey Hutchinson makes note of a statement by President Obama, where he said to Congress: “Don’t stop here, keep going.”  The president was speaking at an event to highlight the passage of the payroll tax cut extension bill.

Before closing the address, Sen. Bailey Hutchinson responds to the president, saying, “[Republicans’] message to the President is: We can keep going. Thirteen million unemployed Americans can’t wait until after this year’s election …”

“We ask the President to help get a bipartisan jobs bill through the Democrat-controlled Senate and for an energy policy that puts American workers and families first.”

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