Mark Begich did what almost no other Democrat in Washington would ever do: declaring his support for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
But this is Alaska, where Democrats are of a different stripe, Begich reminded those who haven't
seen many national-level Democrats from Alaska lately. "I think anyone who knows me knows I'm a different Democrat. I'm from Alaska. I'm a believer, a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, a supporter of drilling in ANWR. Alaskans are very liberal [in
their belief that] government should not interfere in their personal life," he said.
Begich said he was confident he would be able to act as a powerful new advocate on Capitol Hill for opening up Alaska's northernmost wildlife refuge to oil drilling.
The idea has been blocked for years because of concerns it would threaten caribou, migrating birds, polar bears and other wildlife whose survival depends on the Arctic coastal plain and nearby waters.
Source: Los Angeles Times, "Stevens-Begich"
Nov 20, 2008
Short term: $2.5B for LIHEAP; 70M bbl from strategic reserve
Begich said he sent letters to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, urging them to join in a bipartisan effort to tackle both short-term relief & long-term solutions in a national energy package to give help and hope to
America's working families. Begich said the skyrocketing cost of home heating fuel prices "is crippling many communities & stretching pocketbooks," and hospitals, schools and businesses are making tough budget decisions to cover record electricity bills.
In his letter, Begich asked Senate leaders to:
add an extra $2.5 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program;
clamp down on oil market speculators and price gouging by producers and distributors;
release
70 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve;
double tax credits for energy-efficiency home improvements and allow employers to create pre-tax flexible spending accounts for transportation costs.
Long term: develop ANWR; build renewable energy plants
Congress must put aside partisan politics and implement a national energy package, Begich said in a letter to Senate leaders. In his letter, Begich wrote that American families need immediate bipartisan action from Congress and the president to bring
short-term relief from high energy prices. As for long-term solutions, Begich urged Senate leaders to:
open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to responsible oil and gas development;
accelerate the sale of leases in the National Petroleum
Reserve-Alaska;
provide incentives for oil and gas federal lease holders to develop quickly and supply the Alaska natural gas line;
create an loan fund to retrofit public buildings for energy efficiency;
offer low-interest loans to
public utilities for transition to more efficient and renewable power generation;
build vocational education programs that train workers to construct, operate and maintain renewable energy generation plants and transmission systems.
Support US participation in binding climate agreements
Q: Do you support caps on greenhouse gas emissions?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support U.S. participation in binding international climate agreements?
A: Yes.
Source: Citizens for Global Solutions: 2008 Senate questionnaire
Sep 9, 2008
Open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Mark will work across party lines to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development. He will fight for an Alaska Energy Policy that includes building an Alaska natural gas pipeline and also developing Alaska's enormous renewable
energy--hydro, tidal, geothermal and wind. With fellow mayors from Southcentral Alaska, Mark formed the Tri-Borough Commission which is spearheading a balanced Alaska energy policy emphasizing new development, conservation and renewable energy.
Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues"
May 21, 2008
Alaska is ground zero for global warming
What I saw at Portage Glacier was, sadly, the rule & not the exception when it comes to the climate crisis in Alaska. Alaska is ground zero for global warming. I look around Alaska & see all the signs. Villages are literally being washed into the ocean.
The polar ice cap is shrinking. Wildlife populations are being displaced and pests like the spruce bark beetle are destroying our forests. We have to do something. I've seen the value action at the municipal level has had in my city and around Alaska.
Source: Campaign website, www.begich.com, "Issues"
May 21, 2008
