Politics & Government

Semon: Forget SPR, Let's Put Energy Policy Over Politics

Jeff Semon, a Lexington resident and Republican candidate for U.S. Congress, today called U.S. Rep. Ed Markey's request to tap the strategic petroleum reserve a "shortsighted political ploy" and calls for energy policy over energy politics.

Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA5) (SPR) in order to quell the recent rise in gas prices. Mr. Markey’s request is not only a shortsighted political ploy, it is downright dangerous.

Prices are being driven higher by the specter of potential military conflict in Iran.There is not a supply shortage. We do not have an energy policy in America; we have energy politics. As long as this continues to be the status quo, energy prices will continue to rise.

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Our government needs a comprehensive energy policy that focuses on responsibly developing domestic resources and eliminates the crony capitalistic failures of Solyndra, Evergreen Solar, and Beacon Power.

Releasing oil from the SPR will amount to less than one half of one day’s domestic usage. Coupled with rising tensions in the Middle East, which could actually disrupt global supply, we would be making a major tactical error. After all, the SPR was designed as a contingency for exactly these types of scenarios.

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The irony of Rep. Markey’s grandstanding actions are that while he claims release of oil from the SPR will help reduce prices, he is actively trying to block domestic energy development including the Keystone XL pipeline. This type of behavior from our elected representatives simply must end.

Rep. Markey’s actions are a result of being a career politician (elected in 1976, the year I was born). He sees fit to play politics with people’s livelihoods and with this latest spectacle, he gives Massachusetts’ citizens another reason to vote him out.

We can and must elect better leadership. We can safely and responsibly develop our own resources, resulting in lowered energy costs and increased economic growth. We can return America to a prosperous path, but it requires bold leadership and common sense, which I will bring to Washington.


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