1. We should oppose Washington policies and remove red tape regulations that drive up energy prices: Since 2009, regulations have extracted almost $2 trillion per year from the economy–including $281 billion for environmental regulations imposed on small businesses. In other areas, such as the debate over the new Keystone pipeline, the executive branch has simply blocked action that would result in more jobs and lower energy prices for Americans. Furthermore, the administration has invested billions in new loan guarantees for questionable renewable energy projects like the notorious solar start-up Solyndra.
    
2. We must bolster our abilities to tap into and utilize our domestic energy sources: In the 113th Congress, we voted dozens of time to limit moratoriums on safe and environmentally responsible energy exploration in the U.S.; to speed up the permitting process that allows us to explore for new energy sources; to open up unused federal lands for energy exploration and production; and to increase domestic production.  All of this would help lower costs, create jobs, and reduce dependence on foreign oil by tapping into our own natural resources. I look forward to supporting similar legislation in the 114th Congress.
    
3. A cap-and-trade energy scheme would be bad for our economy: Whether through legislative action or bureacratic fiat, I oppose the implementation of a cap-and-trade energy scheme.  Under such a plan, companies could buy and sell credits on a national exchange, in an attempt to regulate emissions.  Not only does it add unnecessary costs to businesses, it would also cause energy rates to skyrocket–particularly in places like Indiana, where we rely heavily on our own coal-generated electric power.

What Do You Think?