Energy and the cost of gasoline — issues that were low priorities for February primary voters — now top the list for the Nov. 4 general election in the 1st Congressional District and the presidential candidates.
In the congressional race, state Sen. Andy Harris, R-Baltimore County, has kicked off his fall ad campaign with a television spot that says: “Gas prices are skyrocketing, and Congress just points fingers,” and touts greater production of alternative fuels and conservation.
Democratic nominee Frank Kratovil Jr. rolled out his own “comprehensive energy strategy” in July, and his campaign manager charged that Harris has consistently voted against the sort of energy alternatives he pledges to champion.
“He stood in the way of progress at every turn,” said Tim McCann, Kratovil’s campaign chief.
On paper, the energy proposals sound similar, including support for tax incentives for the production of wind, solar and bio fuels. But Kratovil’s plan includes more regulation of market speculation in energy futures and higher energy efficiency standards for vehicles and public buildings.
In releasing his plan, Kratovil said that just this year in the state Senate, Harris voted against three major bills that would have made Maryland a national leader on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Harris’ campaign manager, Chris Meekins, said his candidate’s plan emphasizes “free market solutions over government mandates that only drive up the cost of energy.” Meekins maintained that those Senate votes were just more mandates.
On the energy issue, Harris was the first out of the box in the spring with a proposal to drop federal and state gasoline taxes for the summer, saving drivers 42 cents per gallon. It mirrored presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s position on the federal level.
On new production, Harris and McCain favor drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and on the continental shelf.
Kratovil, along with congressional Democrats, favors more domestic production on 68 million acres of federal lands that are leased to oil companies, not off-shore.
Kratovil also said cutting federal deficits would “strengthen the dollar, making energy imports less expensive.”
In a national ad this week, Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, also touts development of solar and wind power.
McCain’s television ads portraying Obama as a celebrity also criticize the Democrat for opposing off-shore oil drilling.
[email protected]
