May 23rd 2008 4:38 PM

Norm Coleman: Fighting To End Our Addiction To Foreign Oil

Al Franken Favors Increasing Gas Tax, Says Minnesotans Wouldn’t Notice It

Saint Paul – As Minnesotans prepare to hit the road for the Memorial Day weekend, the Coleman for Senate campaign today wanted to remind Minnesotans that Norm Coleman is working hard to end our addiction to foreign oil and transition to cheaper, renewable fuels that are made right here in Minnesota.
 
“When it comes to ending our country's addiction to oil, Norm Coleman has been fighting for Minnesota's middle class by working to increase the use and production of Minnesota-made renewable fuels,” said Cullen Sheehan, campaign manager. “He believes that energy tax incentives should go where energy development is needed for our national, energy, and environmental security. This is why he has voted in the last year to shift energy tax incentives from 'Big Oil' to where we need them most: renewable fuels and energy efficiency.”
 
Norm Coleman has been a champion for using energy innovation to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil. With Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), he authored bipartisan legislation, provisions of which were successfully included in the 2007 energy bill.  The energy bill, for the first time ever, created a renewable fuel standard for the United States.  Senator Coleman is a long-time advocate for utilizing innovative energy solutions, including wind, clean coal, coal-to-liquid, biofuels, nuclear and fuel from sugar beets grown right here in Minnesota.
 
Meanwhile, despite record gas prices, comedian Al Franken continues to advocate for “at least” a five to ten-cent a gallon increase in the gas tax. In fact, the candidate is so out of touch that he doesn't believe that Minnesotans would even notice this increase.
 
“Since Al Franken's Democrat colleagues have been in the majority, the cost of a gallon of gas in Minnesota has nearly doubled,” added Sheehan. “Given the Democrat's track record, Minnesotans have every reason to be skeptical of Al Franken's commitment to lower fuel prices.” 
 
 
Senator Coleman Votes To Shift Tax Credits From Big Oil To Renewables:
 
(12/7/07, Senate Vote 416; 6/21/07, Senate Vote 223; 6/21/07, Senate Vote 222)
 
Franken Endorses Gas Tax Hike, Claims It Wouldn’t Be Noticed:
 
Franken: “I’m in favor of at least a five to ten cent tax increase. And the fluctuation of gas prices is that everyday anyway. I don’t think people would notice it so much.” (TwinWest Chamber Candidate Forum, October 5, 2007)
 
Minnesota Gas Prices Rise With Democrats In The Majority:
 
According to MinnesotaGasPrices.Com, the average price for a gallon of gas in Minnesota was $1.92/gallon on January 14, 2007. By May 22, 2008, the price for the same gallon of gas rose to $3.81 – an increase of $1.89/gallon!      (Source: MinnesotaGasPrices.Com 18 Month Average Retail Price Chart, http://www.minnesotagasprices.com/retail_price_chart.aspx, viewed May 23, 2008)
 
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Coleman - Votes like a Democrat!

he Senator unfortunately is only concerned with "Global Warming" and "Green Initiatives" rather than our addition to oil! If he truly cared about our addition, he'd vote in favor of drilling in ANWR!

By: David Flippo

srtusrtyu

eh. i werk @ the ford plant. what a lame attempt at votes. you know NOTHING of whats going on there. what? did you get a newsflash from the union busting company???? dork

By: xftudyu

Lost my vote

Coleman has lost my support with his anti-free market, "green" initiatives.

By: John Galt

Senator Coleman is not what I thought or had hoped he would be. His ANWAR votes and votes to tax oil companies are certainly examples of what creates major doubts. Those votes are mistakes and show very poor judgment Tell me Senator, who would pay those taxes? What have you really done to help put affordable gas in the vehicles of Minnesotans? Nothing.

I do take the opportunity whenever I can and wherever I am in the state of Minnesota to make people aware of the fact that you are apparently against sourcing our own energy.

By: Bob
My husband supported you last election, but there will be no more money from us since your anti-Anwar vote!!!! I can't tell you how disappointed I was when I found that out. If this is a real war, and I think it is, what excuse do you have for giving money to the enemy?

By: Lois Barta