Dr. Davis’ Sloganeering Approach Ignores National Security
"Letter to Editor"09/14/2008
Submitted by Lori Sellner
(Southern Minnesota) – This week, First Congressional District candidate Dr. Brian Davis has again rejected the House Bipartisan Working Group energy plan, a bill supported by 135 Members of Congress from both parties, calling it "too convoluted." [Mankato Free Press, 9/11/08] Dr. Davis prefers a partisan, sloganeering approach that ignores the needs of the U.S. military to conduct training and military operations offshore.
"Millionaire Dr. Brian Davis has made it clear that a balanced energy plan backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and that takes into consideration our national security concerns is 'too complicated' for him to understand," said Walz Campaign Manager Chris Schmitter. "Instead, Dr. Davis offers the same partisan talking points, but no comprehensive plan to make American energy independent while also respecting the needs of the U.S. military."
Tim Walz has worked with colleagues from both parties on a bipartisan energy plan that expands offshore drilling and respects the need of our military to conduct training and readiness operations offshore. The bipartisan energy plan includes a provision that addresses the need to work with the Department of Defense to ensure offshore drilling doesn't infringe on U.S. military operations. In 2005, then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sent a letter to remind Congressional leaders that any offshore drilling strategy must address the needs of the U.S. military to conduct training and operations offshore.
In addition to ignoring national security concerns, Dr. Davis has indicated that he would maintain billions of dollars in tax breaks for oil companies, and would not have voted for the 2007 Bipartisan Energy Bill, which provided billions in new funding for renewable energy development [Farm Fest Forum, 2008]. And last week, at the Republican National Convention, Dr. Davis called the House Bipartisan Working Group energy plan "too complicated" [MPR, 9/2/08].