Energy has become the new battleground issue in Virginia, where Republicans are blaming both President Obama and U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine for rising gas prices and suppressing coal production.
Democrats and their allies shot back that Republicans are beholden to the demands of oil and coal companies and putting industry’s concerns above the health and welfare of Virginia voters.
The bickering reflects a national feud between congressional Republicans and Obama at a time when polls are showing that voters are mindful of soaring prices at the pump. Obama defended his record on energy this week, airing ads in swing states, including Virginia, that paint Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney as a mouthpiece for Big Oil while noting that U.S. oil production is at an all-time high.
In Virginia, a state poised to help shape the political landscape of Washington in November, George Allen, a Republican candidate for Senate, remained especially vigilant in his attacks on Kaine, his likely fall opponent. Allen recently blasted Kaine for siding with Obama on measures, like the Keystone XL oil pipeline, that he insisted “have slowed, blocked and delayed access to those proven resources, pursuing counterproductive policies that do nothing to reduce prices at the pump.”
Kaine, who called on Congress to end multibillion-dollar tax breaks for oil companies, said he welcomes oil and gas exploration on U.S. soil but that green energy also should also be part of energy mix.
“[Allen] makes fun of them,” Kaine said. “He acts like they’re not meaningful and important.”
Federal environmental rules for new coal-burning power plants released last week are also being targeted by Virginia Republicans. The rules would cap carbon emissions at levels opponents said would keep new plants from opening and undercut the mining industry that’s so vital to southwest Virginia’s economy.
“This new regulation would eliminate significant numbers of good-paying jobs in Virginia alone, devastate our economy and force families and small business owners to shoulder the burden of skyrocketing electricity bills,” Allen said.
A coalition of environmental organization is airing ads in 12 major media markets, including at least two in Old Dominion, in support of the tougher regulations.
For his part, Kaine has concerns about the new rules and their impact on Virginia’s economy, but added: “Any plant that we build tomorrow should be cleaner than plants that were built yesterday.”
