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Candidate Notes on 01-CPC1

 


01-CPC1 on Mar 16, 2001

The Problem

Escalating energy costs have almost no correlation with supply and demand. Adequate capacity to supply our current energy needs is and has always been plentiful within the energy markets. Newly formed deregulated energy companies are creating an artificial shortage and reaping tremendous profits while doing so.

The Progressive Caucus Solution: Wholesale Cost-based Pricing with Refunds

In the 1930s, wholesale electricity prices and wholesale natural gas prices were regulated, and the regulations provided for refunds if unjust or unreasonable rates were found. Since the late 1970s, these laws have been methodically dismantled leaving little federal price regulations to protect consumers. However, energy prices are easily manipulated as production and delivery systems are complex. Cost-based rates for wholesale electricity, natural gas, heating oil should be established to protect consumers from unjust and unfair prices. Cost based rates allow utilities to

recover the cost of their investment and operations while also allowing a reasonable profit. This is not a price cap— FERC sets prices based on a specific, professional rationale. Establishing cost-based rates ensure adequate supply is available and removes the profit incentive from shorting the market. The rates should be set retroactively to the beginning of 2000. Refunds will be issued to families and businesses who have racked up incredible debt in 2000 and 2001, paying the unreasonable and unjust charges that the energy producers, generators and wholesalers inflicted.



Democrats participating in 01-CPC1

Neil Abercrombie s1aHawaii Democrat
Tammy Baldwin s1aWisconsin Democrat
Xavier Becerra s1aCalifornia Democrat
David Bonior s1aMichigan Democrat
Corrine Brown s1aFlorida Democrat
Sherrod Brown s1aOH Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep.
Michael Capuano s1aMassachusetts Democrat
Julia Carson s1aIndiana Democrat
William Lacy Clay s1aMissouri Democrat
John Conyers s1aMichigan Democrat
Danny Davis s1aIllinois Democrat
Peter Defazio s1aOregon Democrat
Rosa DeLauro s1aConnecticut Democrat
Lane Evans s1aIllinois Democrat
Eni Faleomavaega s1aSamoa Democrat
Sam Farr s1aCalifornia Democrat
Chaka Fattah s1aPennsylvania Democrat
Bob Filner s1aCalifornia Democrat
Barney Frank s1aMassachusetts Democrat
Luis Gutierrez s1aIllinois Democrat
Earl Hilliard s1aAlabama Democrat
Maurice Hinchey s1aNew York Dem./Ind./Lib./Working-Fam.
Jesse Louis Jackson s1aIllinois Democrat
Stephanie Tubbs Jones s1aOhio Democrat
Marcy Kaptur s1aOhio Democrat
Dennis Kucinich s1aOhio Democrat
Tom Lantos s1aCalifornia Democrat
Barbara Lee s1aCalifornia Democrat
Sheila Jackson Lee s1aTexas Democrat
John Lewis s1aGeorgia Democrat
Jim McDermott s1aWashington Democrat
Jim McGovern s1aMassachusetts Democrat
Cynthia McKinney s1aGeorgia Democrat
Carrie Meek s1aFlorida Democrat (retired 2002)
George Miller s1aCalifornia Democrat
Patsy Mink s1aHawaii Democrat
Jerrold Nadler s1aNew York Dem./Lib./Working-Families
Eleanor Holmes Norton s1aDistrict of Columbia Democrat
John Olver s1aMassachusetts Democrat
Major Owens s1aNew York Democrat/Working-Families
Ed Pastor s1aArizona Democrat
Donald Payne s1aNew Jersey Democrat
Nancy Pelosi s1aCalifornia Democrat
Jan Schakowsky s1aIllinois Democrat
Jose Serrano s1aNew York Democrat/Liberal
Hilda Solis s1aCalifornia Democrat
Pete Stark s1aCalifornia Democrat
Bennie Thompson s1aMississippi Democrat
John Tierney s1aMassachusetts Democrat
Tom Udall s1aNew Mexico Democrat
Nydia Velazquez s1aNew York Democrat/Working-Families
Maxine Waters s1aCalifornia Democrat
Mel Watt s1aNorth Carolina Democrat
Henry Waxman s1aCalifornia Democrat
Paul Wellstone s1aMN Democrat Senator (Former)
Lynn Woolsey s1aCalifornia Democrat



Republicans participating in 01-CPC1



Independents participating in 01-CPC1

Bernie Sanders s1aVermont Independent



Total recorded by OnTheIssues:

Democrats: 56
Republicans: 0
Independents: 1