Monty Newman
This president is holding America back. If we want to return to an era of American prosperity, we need to send him home to Illinois in November.
President Obama was in New Mexico last week on a taxpayer-funded public relations tour to try and convince the American people his energy policies haven’t led to record-breaking gas prices. No amount of political rhetoric or swing-state backdrops can cover up the truth and consequences of the president’s failed energy policy.
His approach to energy production – to the detriment of all of us – has been to pick winners and losers regardless of what is right for the American people.
Just last month, the Obama administration proposed closing one million acres of federal land in the west to oil shale development. As for the president’s claim that there is “no silver bullet” to lower gas prices, perhaps he should take another look at the Keystone pipeline and the mountain of job killing red tape he has thrown at the American oil and gas industry.
The Keystone XL pipeline would have created more than 20,000 good paying jobs immediately and brought almost one million barrels of oil to America from Canada, our friendly ally to the north.
After denying the Keystone Pipeline permit, putting up barriers to production whenever possible, and imposing new taxes on energy, President Obama does not have anyone to blame for skyrocketing gas prices but himself.
Out of touch
President Obama is so out of touch that he came to New Mexico to tour a natural gas field after filling his cabinet with academics who have actively advocated for higher gas prices. The truth about this president is that energy prices have doubled while he has been in office. New Mexico families cannot afford to deal with the consequences of four more years of his failed policies.
New Mexicans are gravely concerned about what rapidly increasing gas prices will do to their bank accounts. Unlike U.S. Senate Democrats – who haven’t passed a budget in over 1,000 days – New Mexico families have to plan and make sound financial decisions.
In New Mexico, we balance our budgets and we live within our means. When the cost of gas goes up, families have to cut back on other things.
As a consequence of his policies, New Mexicans are paying more at the pump and simultaneously facing increases on the price of everyday household necessities. President Obama is forcing New Mexico families into an austerity budget while he continues to push for failed energy schemes like Solyndra that waste taxpayer dollars and only make gas prices shoot higher.
Almost a third of New Mexico’s budget is funded by oil and gas, providing money for schools, roads and hospitals. Yet Obama’s EPA has worked hard to block oil and gas production in New Mexico, one of the leading energy producing states in the nation. This administration’s approach to governing is arrogant and ineffective.
Time for new leadership
Clearly, it is time for new leadership in the White House – leadership that uses common sense and is responsive to the needs of small business owners and middle-class families instead of pandering to the wild ideas of extreme liberals and ivory-tower academics.
This president is holding America back. If we want to return to an era of American prosperity, we need to send him home to Illinois in November.
Newman is chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico.