Bishop: Dem bill ruins future, GOP bill saves it

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, says quite different futures could be created by competing Republican and Democratic energy bills.

"Remember those sequels to 'Back to the Future' where there were two worlds? Our world is the one where the McFly family is happy. The Democratic version is the one where Biff runs everything" and the world is a wreck, he told a Capitol press conference on Thursday.

That came as the Western Congressional Caucus, which Bishop chairs, and the Republican Study Committee unveiled an energy bill to counter Democratic legislation that seeks to combat global warming by such things as capping current emission levels and having industry trade emission credits to try to reduce carbon dioxide.

Republicans describe their version as sort of an energy buffet, or an "all you can create" energy bill, that encourages everything from more oil exploration (including in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Outer Continental Shelf) to more conservation, more unconventional fuels and more carbon-capture research.

"Republicans provide a competing vision that emphasizes job growth, innovation, conservation, production and incentives to support true American ingenuity," Bishop said.

"Americans need to know that they do not have to settle for fewer jobs and higher energy costs as a result of 'cap and tax.' Our bill would create jobs, reduce the deficit and provide for a stronger, more independent energy future," he said.

Meanwhile, Bishop said, "Democrats will take you down a road that will cost at least 3 million jobs, at the most conservative of estimates. Ours will create jobs — real jobs for real people."

The congressman added, "The Democrats have already given us an option on energy issues that will cost individuals up to $3,000. … The Republican road we want to go down is one that actually grows our energy supply, so that no one is harmed, and in fact, we have the chance to reduce the cost of energy."

Bishop said the GOP bill "was introduced on behalf of every hardworking American who believes that enough is enough with the tax and mandate (Democratic) response to every issue facing our country. You cannot mandate ingenuity or entrepreneurship, that comes from the can-do American spirit on which this country was founded."

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