McHenry’s Gas Solution: Drill in Alaska

Congressman discusses alternative fuels, presidential battle and general election

Hickory, Jun 3, 2008 -

The time has come to increase oil refinery capacity in the United States and open up oil exploration in Alaska to better deal with wallet-busting gas prices, says U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry.

“We must increase our supply in a major way. We should increase capacity and invest in alternative fuels for the long term,” McHenry said Monday in an exclusive interview with the Record. “We can’t allow extreme environmentalists to determine our energy policy. That’s what they’ve done for the last 30 years.” Liquefied coal should be developed as an alternative fuel, McHenry said, to take advantage of the nation’s high concentration of coal. Environmentalists question the ecological impact of such a move. Drilling for oil in Alaska is even more controversial. Oil companies and the Bush administration have proposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, (ANWR), comprised of 19 million acres in northeastern Alaska. The area is believed to contain one of the best remaining prospects for substantial oil discovery in the country. However, the refuge was established to preserve wildlife such as caribou herds, polar and grizzly bears, wolves, wolverines and birds.

McClellan book
Former Bush press secretary Scott McClellan wrote a tell-all book released last week, which criticizes the administration on several fronts, especially in regards to the decision to pursue the Iraq War. McHenry has never met McClellan, but knows people who worked with him. “Based on what they say, I question the veracity of what he has written,” McHenry said. “It’s interesting that he never spoke up about the issues he is writing about in the book. The book is an example of what is wrong in Washington.”

The Democrats’ presidential battle
Hillary Clinton’s overwhelming primary election advantage in the 10th District over Barack Obama in the May primary bodes well for Republican John McCain in the November general election, McHenry said. “I think McCain can win the Tenth District by a wide margin and North Carolina and be competitive nationally,” he said. “Obama’s ideology is so extreme. The substance of his message is extremely liberal. That’s why you see Democrats in the district oppose Obama.” Obama’s failure to win the 10-county 10th District also offers a positive sign for McHenry’s campaign, he said.

The general election
McHenry and Democrat Daniel Johnson exchanged heated news releases in the weeks after the primary. McHenry labeled Johnson as a trial lawyer, handpicked to oppose him by House leader Nancy Pelosi and “stuffed with cash by Washington liberals.” Johnson took offense to the characterization.

“It’s liberal trial lawyers that many of us in business have problems with,” McHenry said. “Trial lawyers have increased the costs of goods across this country.” Johnson is a former state prosecutor and now works for Hickory firm Sigmon, Clark, Mackie, Hutton, Hanvey and Ferrell. Johnson described McHenry’s comments as the same type of politics people are tired of. “He’s trying to distract from the fact that we’ve seen skyrocketing gas prices, healthcare costs, food prices, inadequate care for veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and absolutely no leadership or action to resolve these problems,” Johnson said.

McHenry said he is prepared to debate Johnson and exchange ideas, but declined to offer specific dates. McHenry said he hopes the race is issue-oriented and not about personal attacks. “I think it would be wonderful,” Johnson said of the prospects of a debate. “I think people in the district would like to hear we are going to solve the many problems we’re facing.”

So far, both campaigns have been in attack mode. When asked if his labeling of Johnson in various ways constitutes an attack, McHenry responded with an emphatic “no.” “It is an issue when you go to Washington and vote,” he said. “You can see my record and that I’ve fought for the Tenth District every step of the way.”

“I think this is an honest discussion point. Will he vote for Nancy Pelosi? Will he vote for Barack Obama?” Johnson called McHenry’s comment another type of distraction. “I’m not going up there to represent a partisan agenda and a continuation of politics we’ve all watched and become frustrated with,” Johnson said. “I’m going to Washington to show leadership for this district. Regardless of who the president is, I’ll stand up for the people of this district. I look forward to working with the president to find real solutions to the problems we’re facing.”

McHenry visited five of the 10 counties of the 10th District in the past week. He spoke at Ashbrook and Hunter Huss high schools Saturday night. Later Monday, McHenry was to appear at a Hickory gathering. He is heading back to Washington this morning.