Tester Tells Burns to Work for Montana Energy Consumers, Not Big Energy Producers
Burns One of Biggest Recipients of Big Oil and Gas Money
U.S. Senate candidate Jon Tester today called on Senator Conrad Burns to work for Montana and American energy consumers, not big energy producers that are making record profits and lining his pockets with campaign cash.
“The amount of campaign cash Conrad Burns gets from big oil and gas companies guarantees he’ll never support a national energy strategy that puts consumers ahead of oil company profits,” said Tester, who sponsored and passed legislation to cut Montana’s and America’s addition to foreign oil and focus on developing renewable energy sources, like wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy.
“Skyrocketing energy prices hurt working Montanans and Main Street businesses,” Tester said. “Senator Burns has turned his back on these folks and held his hand out to lobbyists like Jack Abramoff and Big Oil to grease the wheels of his campaign. I’ll fight for working Montanans in places like Big Sandy rather than lobbyists working for Big Oil and Gas.”
The Montana Democratic Party today released data showing that Sen. Conrad Burns has been among the largest recipients of oil and gas industry campaign contributions this year. Burns, meanwhile, has voted against efforts to provide relief at the pump, the party said.
After Hurricane Katrina, the Montana Democratic Party noted, Burns helped to kill a proposal to make gas price gouging a federal crime. Burns also opposed a proposal to impose a temporary tax on excess oil company profits and use the proceeds for energy assistance for families in need, the party said.
In 2006 so far, the party noted, Burns has received at least $17,000 from oil and gas industry PACs, including ConocoPhillips and Sunoco. These contributions bring Burns’ career total from the industry to more than $437,000.
Building on his energy record in the Legislature, Tester has released a national energy strategy designed to cut America’s addiction to foreign oil and develop renewable energy resources that will create jobs in rural Montana and America.
Posted on Thursday, April 20th, 2006 at 3:00 pm.
