Liberal Liddy Dole Is At It Again

The following is a letter written by Elizabeth Dole, our senior so-called Republican Senator, to the President. It was written by Mrs. Dole on behalf of 53 Senators. The source does not indicate the political affiliation of those Senators, but it shouldn't be hard to guess that most of them were Democrats.

"Mr. President: A recent federal court decision regarding energy efficient air conditioners is a significant victory for consumers, for the environment, and for our nation's energy future. We respectfully request that you do not appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court."

"Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second District (Natural Resources Defense Council et al v. Abraham, Docket 01-4102) affirmed that central air conditioners sold beginning in 2006 must be at least 30% more energy efficient than those available today."

"Air conditioners are a necessary modern convenience but are also major users of electricity. On hot days, cooling homes and businesses is the largest category of electricity demand. Requiring air conditioners to be as energy efficient as possible will begin to reduce the stress on the electricity generation and transmission network and decrease the likelihood of blackouts that many regions of the country experience during warm weather conditions."

"Air conditioners that meet the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating 13 standard will provide benefits for consumers, the environment, and the nation. The SEER 13 standard will alleviate the need for additional electricity production and transmission resulting in as many as 48 fewer power plants required by 2020. This standard will also result in less harmful air pollution being emitted into the atmosphere. Moreover, by 2020 power plant emissions of carbon dioxide will be 2.5 million tons lower as a result, and emissions of mercury, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides will also be held down resulting in cleaner air and healthier citizens."

"Finally, the higher standard can be expected to save businesses and residential consumers $1 billion per year in lower electricity bills. Lower electricity bills will recover the slightly higher purchase cost for the more efficient air conditioners in less than 18 months."

Dole is a confirmed statist with a record of government expansion and interference in commerce going back to her days in the Reagan Administration. Seat belt laws and the recent onerous child safety seat laws in NC can be directly traced to Mrs. Dole's activities in the 1980's. That makes her a RINO and a liberal. We need to find a real Republican to challenge her in 2006. Also, Richard Burr seems to be aligning himself quite strongly with Mrs. Dole. That is a mistake.