Bush beleaguered energy plan attracts crucial labor support, vote expected
WASHINGTON, July 31 (AFP) - The powerful US Teamsters truckers union threw its weight behind President George W. Bush's administration controversial national energy policy Tuesday, supporting oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Teamster leader Jerry Hood spoke up for the policy as a significant job-creating measure, as Republican leaders scurried in a last-ditch effort to pass the embattled policy which the House of Representatives is expected to vote on as early as Wednesday.
"We support the Securing America's Future Energy Act, particularly opening up ANWR, because it puts our people to work," Hood, a Democrat, told reporters.
But Democratic lawmakers will likely add amendments to the controversial issue of drilling in the ANWR, as well as push for increased conservation measures such as closing the loopholes allowing SUVs, pickups and minivans to have lower fuel efficiency levels than cars.
Bush, a former oil executive, has pushed hard to open the Alaskan reserve to oil and gas exploration to reduce US dependence on imported oil. Environmentalists and politically moderate legislators have put up a firewall of resistance to the proposal.
And the drop in energy prices since Bush announced his ambitious energy plan two months ago has eased the pressure for lawmakers to pass the president's energy proposals which critics have labeled as environmentally unfriendly and pro-industry.
Analysts say that with the crisis atmosphere easing, the White House is less likely to win passage of some controversial measures such as drilling in the ANWR and encouraging more nuclear energy.
House Republican leaders acknowledged they had scored a political coup by attracting the Teamsters, a traditionally Democratic union, to their cause.
Asked what would differentiate the current energy bill from previous failed proposals calling for opening up the refuge, House Majority Whip Republican Tom DeLay answered: "Mr. Hood is the difference."
"Because of its tremendous potential, opening ANWR could create 735,000 jobs nationwide -- and at least 25,000 jobs would go to the Teamsters working directly in oil production related jobs," DeLay said.
US Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said the leaders of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Boilermakers unions had joined the Teamsters and were "working shoulder to shoulder with the administration to get the president's energy plan through Congress."
DeLay and Hood insisted there was enough support for the bill to pass the House and move on to the Senate.