Hartsuch says Dems want gas prices to remain high

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By Ed Tibbetts | Thursday, July 24, 2008 9:42 PM CDT | () comments

Republican congressional candidate David Hartsuch said Thursday that Democrats are purposely driving up the cost of gasoline to achieve their environmental goals.

Hartsuch, a state senator from Bettendorf, is challenging U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, in the Nov. 4 election. He criticized Braley for opposing Republican-sponsored bills to expand drilling in parts of Alaska and the United States.

“I think many liberals believe prices aren’t high enough,” said Hartsuch, who intends to make energy issues the centerpiece of his campaign.

Asked if he included Braley in that group, he said that he does.

Hartsuch called the news conference to complain about a provision in a bill sponsored by Democrats last week that would push oil companies to drill in less environmentally controversial parts of Alaska. A provision of the bill, Hartsuch said, would hurt minority contractors because it seeks to steer work on oil pipelines to unions.

He said that in his work in the state Senate he had talked with minority contractors who objected to such provisions, called project labor agreements.

“I think this is one of those union paybacks,” he said.

Hartsuch also charged that Democrats want to push gas prices higher to depress energy use because of their worries over global warming.

“I believe that is their goal,” he said.

The senator played down human contributions to climate change. “In some small portion, it may exist,” he said, but added it is not the “main force.”

High gasoline prices have been a point of contention between the parties for weeks now. When Hartsuch announced his campaign two weeks ago, he said he would focus heavily on energy.

Republicans have argued for allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an area that has been off limits for years.

Nicole Buseman, a Braley spokeswoman, rejected the suggestion that the bill the congressman supported, dubbed the drill bill by Democrats, would hurt minorities. She also said Braley has long been supportive of policies that lower fuel prices — in the short- and long-term.

She said Braley voted Thursday to release oil from the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to help.

“That’s one of the only proposals that would bring down the cost of oil in days, not years,” she said.

Democrats say the drill bill would speed up oil exploration in parts of Alaska that are outside the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The bill failed to get enough votes last week.

Ed Tibbetts can be contacted at (563) 383-2327 or etibbetts@qctimes.com.