Lawmakers, reluctant to take action to reverse the trend of increasing energy scarcity have been feeling the pressure from their constituents and, for the sake of political survival are compelled to act on energy. The driving force has been a plan called the "American Energy Act," an "all of the above" plan to increase domestic production and supply of all kinds of energy. Everything from petroleum to nuclear power was addressed in the bill. Speaker Pelosi and her anti-energy cohorts in the House pulled the plug on debate when it became obvious that they were on the losing side of the argument.

Since adjourning for a five-week vacation instead of addressing the sharply rising cost of energy in the United States, Congressmen have been feeling the heat from angry constituents demanding they get back to work and do something about American energy.

Since abundant, affordable energy runs contrary to their agenda, this puts some lawmakers in a bit of a pickle. Their careers could be on the line if they don’t act, and act quickly, but taking action could upset their future plans.

The new "gang of ten" has ridden in on white horses to save the day with the "New Energy Reform Act." This plan, cooked up by 5 Senate Republicans and 5 Senate Democrats (Conrad D-ND, Chambliss R-GA, Thune R-SD, Graham R-SC, Lincoln D-AR, Landrieu D-LA, Isakson R-GA, Corker R-TN, Pryor D-AR, and Nelson D-NE) is supposed to be the compromise between boosters of abundant American energy and those who wish to restrict the flow of energy.

How can there be a compromise between parties, who on one side want more energy while the other side wants less? The only possible middle ground would be to keep things they way they are. This New Energy Reform Act isn’t even a middle-ground compromise, though. The plan will be presented as a way to increase domestic drilling for oil, something the vast majority of US citizens favor, but in reality, this so-called "reform" is so packed with stipulations and regulations as to make it nearly impossible to meaningfully increase domestic oil exploration and drilling. Throw in a whole slew of new taxes on energy producers, more mandates for "alternative" and "renewable" energy sources and what you really get is what the anti-energy crowd wanted all along: Less energy at higher prices.

So now, Pelosi and her followers have a bill they can say is an energy bill that includes domestic drilling. When Congress gets back from it’s 5-week vacation, they can get behind this bill, and hold it up to their constituents as proof that they listened and are doing something about America’s energy problems, but it’s nothing more than the old bait and switch trick. The "New Energy Reform Act" (also called the "New Era" bill) is the same tired old tax and regulate liberal politics with a name that implies something it isn’t.

Highlights from the New Energy Reform Act include new taxes and regulations on energy producers, converting cars and trucks to non-oil fuels, carbon mitigation and sequestration, more biofuel subsidies and conservation initiatives.

More progress could actually be made if Congress did nothing, rather than enact the "New Energy Reform Act." As it now stands, the Congressional ban on offshore drilling expires in October. They will have to pass a bill to continue the ban. The president could veto such a bill and offshore drilling could begin. Were this "New Era" bill enacted, most US coastal waters would actually be permanently off-limits for drilling in statute. Only a narrowly defined portion of potential drill sites would be opened, and under such stringent regulations that any actual drilling on a meaningful scale is unlikely. Add to that at least $84 billion in new taxes on energy production and somehow the equation is supposed to equal more energy at lower costs?

Don’t confuse real reform like the "American Energy Act" with it’s doppelganger surrogate. The "New Energy Reform Act" may actually be worse than doing nothing.

Take Action: Contact your elected officials and tell them not to be fooled by the "New Energy Reform Act" / "New Era" bill and to support real solutions like the "American Energy Act."

Take Action: Help us spread the word on the American Energy Act by contributing toward air time for our radio ad campaign.