Mitch McConnell on Energy & Oil Republican Sr Senator (KY)

Supported withdrawal from Paris climate agreement

Mitch McConnell: No. Supported withdrawal from Paris climate agreement, saying it would "handcuff" the U.S. economy; opposed Obama's Clean Power Plan. Refused to extend solar and wind subsidies.

Amy McGrath: Yes to renewables; unclear on regulation. Invest in infrastructure to support alternatives to coal jobs. Expanded solar and wind will reduce electricity costs and "bring energy-related jobs."

I blocked the passage of Obama's cap-and-trade

Grimes blamed McConnell for lost coal jobs, but he fired back that he was actually able to block the passage of cap-and-trade legislation when Democrats had a super majority of 60 votes in the Senate and it was a top presidential priority. He suggested that Obama is using executive orders because of his deft maneuvering in the Senate.

The challenge for McConnell is making sure that the swing voters left in this race do not see him as part of the problem in Washington.McConnell says he's not a scientist and doesn't know for sure if global warming is a problem. Grimes said, "I recognize, unlike Sen. McConnell, the realities of climate change, but I do believe we have to take a balanced approach."

AdWatch: Fights EPA regulation on coal production

"A fighter who never lets Kentucky down," the Chamber says of McConnell in the ad that is airing now through Dec. 12 at a cost of $181,500, according to the latest report from the FEC.

Find more, use less: drill ANWR & off coast

Supports coal-to-liquid fuels, nuclear tech, & electric cars

Bruce Lunsford said his energy plan includes expanded drilling, alternative fuels and drawing from the nation's strategic petroleum reserve to lower gas prices. Lunsford said Republicans are pushing for expanded drilling because it is favored by the oil industry. "What the Republicans have done led by Mitch McConnell is they have been industry-driven for every solution, because that's who butters their bread," Lunsford said.

Has clout to implement GOP solutions for high gas prices

McConnell said that Republicans have the best solutions for high gas prices and that as Senate minority leader he can get more done than a freshman Democrat. And he said that the labor unions supporting Lunsford would control him in Washington. "I'm not there to do the bidding of organized labor like my opponent," McConnell said. "If they deliver for him, believe me, he'll deliver for them."

Afterward, Lunsford said that he has met with the AFL-CIO and other labor groups and that he has no problem with any of the issues they asked him to support. But he said he isn't under the union's thumb. "I don't think I'll be a puppet for anyone," he said.

Gas Price Reduction Act: drill offshore; harness oil shale

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell is leading the fight to "find more and use less" by authoring the Gas Price Reduction Act of 2008, which will:

1. increase offshore oil exploration
2. harness the untapped potential of oil shale
3. encourage development of electric cars and trucks, and
4. strengthen our ability to prevent speculators from driving up the price of gas.

Rated 0% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence.

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2005-2006 CAF scores as follows:

• 0% - 30%: opposition of energy independence (approx. 206 members)
• 30% - 70%: mixed record on energy independence (approx. 77 members)
• 70%-100%: support for energy independence (approx. 183 members)

The Campaign for America`s Future (CAF) is a center for ideas and action that works to build an enduring majority for progressive change. The Campaign advances a progressive economic agenda and a vision of the future that works for the many, not simply the few. The Campaign is leading the fight for America`s priorities--against privatization of Social Security, for investment in energy independence, good jobs and a sustainable economy, for an ethical and accountable Congress and for high quality public education.

About the CAF report, `Energy Independence: Record vs. Rhetoric`:

Energy independence has surfaced as a defining issue in the current elections. Are most candidates and both parties truly committed? To help distinguish the demonstrated level of support for homegrown, clean energy alternatives, we examined the voting records of current U.S. Representatives and Senators on bills vital to promoting those interests. Key pieces of legislation included goals for independence, and subsidies for the development of alternatives compared to subsidies for drilling and digging. We then compared votes on these issues with campaign contributions from major oil interests. The results show strong inverse correlations between political contributions from big oil and votes for energy independence.

Open the Outer Continental Shelf for oil & gas leasing.

A bill to address record high gas prices at the pump, and for other purposes. The Gas Price Reduction Act amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to prescribe procedures for petition, by the governor of a state with a new producing area within the offshore administrative boundaries beyond the state`s submerged land, to make the new producing area available for oil and gas leasing.

Repeals the prohibition against funding: (1) regulations regarding a commercial leasing program for oil shale resources on public lands; or (2) an oil shale lease sale.