Iowa Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge, a Democrat, went to a corner gas station in Des Moines today to criticize Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s energy policy. Judge’s comments come as McCain is scheduled to visit the Iowa State Fair Friday.
"Americans are hurting, and we need strong leadership to meet our energy challenges, and that person is not John McCain,"Judge says, "I’m here today because I think it’s time for some straight talk about Senator McCain’s energy policies."
Judge, the former state ag secretary, says McCain has pushed against subsidies for corn-based ethanol and other renewable energy. Judge says: "Senator McCain has actively worked against energy independence. For years while the farmers of Iowa have been working tirelessly to help solve our energy challenges by the development of renewable energy, Senator McCain has been a vocal opponent of ethanol."
Judge says some Iowa Republicans also don’t agree with McCain’s energy plan. "Yesterday, the A.P. reported that my successor as Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey, in fact does not agree with McCains stance on renewable energy," Judge says, "And even Senator (Chuck) Grassley does not see eye-to-eye with Senator McCain." Judge says McCain introduced an amendment to eliminate the wind energy tax credit that was championed by Senator Grassley.
Judge also said McCain will continue following President Bush’s energy policy and give tax breaks to big oil companies. But Judge admitted that Democrat Barack Obama voted for the Bush energy plan in 2005, and McCain opposed the bill’s subsidies for energy companies.
Judge says: "I believe that’s right, but think that Barack Obama has got a comprehensive plan now, that addresses energy needs, that is supportive of the industry, and I think McCain will continue, and does continue to believe that renewable energy should not be subsidized, and I think that is the wrong approach." McCain is set to visit the Iowa State Fair Friday morning.